Hi Cordain
<<My biggest challenge thus far has not even been the figuring out my budget
or financial concerns as it has been finding an adequate WVO oil supply to
keep up with my proposed plant size>>
I find this to be the one big issue I keep coming back to in my plans, too.
In Sydney-regional terms, it's probably most feasible to look at selling to
a distributor (that old economies of scale thing) rather than try to
independent service stations. One such distributor currently sells 200,000
litres a week. I'll be stuffed if I'm going to collect that much grease!
So,in order to make worst-case projections on process costs, I now always
include the best price I have had quoted from existing waste oil collectors
(per tonne). These merchants are a realistic alternative, when you consider
that they provide consistency (here they sort it all by grade for export) in
bulk quantities ("how many tonnes do you want?") all in the one place
(massive fuel and time saved in collection).
In supplying your process with 'free' waste oil on a commercial scale I
believe we'll all have to come to a decision that goes like this:you either
a)set up a waste oil collection company, costing you time, transport,
storage, staffing and plant (there is a LOT of pretreatment to be done to
ensure consistency and, ultimately, standards-satisfying fuel), or
b) buy from an existing bulk source.
I find I have a 'greener' stance than most people I talk to with similar
aspirations to make fuel, and would like nothing more than to actually solve
a waste problem myself, but you have to ask yourself if it is a distraction
from the business you really want to be in. Sometimes outsourcing is the
best option.
On the same train of thought, I am still looking into us making ethanol, for
its better cold point properties and renewable supply properties, but the
price of methanol by the truckload (indeed boatload) from methanex (Thanks
Keith for the links again) seems sure to settle that question.
regards
Steve
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