Photo: CNH Industrial
March 5, 2020
BY Ron Kotrba
Italy-based Fiat Powertrain (FPT) Industrial, a brand of Case New Holland (CNH) Industrial N.V., is investigating production and use of biodiesel made from Acrocomia aculeata, more commonly referred to as macaúba—a native palm tree to Brazil, the Caribbean and South Florida.
Macaúba oil was extracted by Cooper Riachão, a rural producers cooperative in the region of Montes Claros in the state of Minas Gerais, and biodiesel was transesterified in an experimental plant. Research was conducted at the Technical Center in Betim with the main focus on its application as a fuel for agricultural tractors.
The project was carried out in partnership with the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais (PUC Minas), the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and Bchem Biofuels, using an FPT Industrial N67 Tier 3 engine fitted to Case IH and New Holland Agriculture tractors.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Mixtures of 10 and 20 percent of macaúba biodiesel were used. Results showed performance and consumption comparable to Brazilian commercial diesel, with reduction of carbon monoxide and particulate matter emissions.
While this project focused on use of macaúba biodiesel blends in agricultural tractors, tests for trucks and buses, as well as power generators, are planned for the future.
Advertisement
Advertisement
BDI-BioEnergy International has signed a contract with Ghent Renewables BV to begin the construction of a pioneering biofuel feedstock refinery plant. Construction is underway and the facility is expected to be operational by the end of 2025.
Verity Holdings LLC, a subsidiary of Gevo Inc., has partnered with Minnesota Soybean Processors (MnSP) to implement Verity’s proprietary track and trace software. The collaboration aims to unlock additional value through export premiums.
A small but increasing amount of biodiesel in the United States is consumed in the residential, commercial, and electric power sectors, according to new estimates now published in the U.S. EIA’s State Energy Data System.
IAG and Microsoft are extending their 2023 co-funded purchase agreement for SAF by five years. The SAF used under the agreement will be produced by Phillips 66’s Humberside refinery and LanzaJet’s facility in the U.S.
Neste and DB Schenker, a logistics service provider, have collaborated to work towards expanding DB Schenker’s adoption of Neste MY Renewable Diesel in Asia-Pacific. DB Schenker trialed the fuel from December 2024 to February 2025 in Singapore.