By Derek Dalling, MPGA Executive Director
Conventionally-produced propane is a “clean-burning alternative fuel,” according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It’s been used for decades powering light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles.
In Michigan, propane propels over 30,000 vehicles, thousands of residential water heaters and furnaces, propane appliances, generators, agricultural equipment, forklifts and more. Propane’s unique 3-carbon-molecule offers “Near-Zero” emissions and a low carbon intensity score. Propane offers fuel diversity to residents and businesses helping them to meet their energy goals.
Renewable propane is the “new kid on the block” with regards to fuel diversity. Renewable propane is made from biomass based feedstocks, including cooking oil and animal fats, offering zero-emissions. Its carbon intensity score is less than conventional propane, and it’s ramping up on the alternative fuel arena.
MORE ABOUT CAMELINA
- cover crop, 100% waste free
- grown in cooler regions of the U.S.
- drought and pest tolerant
- pollinator for bees
- enriches soil
It also is high in protein (24% to 31%). As a food stuff, Camelina is not very tasty. But from an industrial standpoint, it’s being used as a jet fuel, meeting standards as good as petroleum-based aviation fuel.
The plant has been around for centuries, originating in India as far back as 3,000 BC, with other data showing it’s growth along coastal Europe nearly 8,000 years ago. Today, it’s grown in the Mediterranean, Europe, Asia, and North America.
The oil has one of the lowest carbon scores and can reduce 60% of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) as compared to petroleum fuel.
MORE ENERGY GROUPS
AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE INCREASING THEIR PRODUCTION
OF RENEWABLE PROPANE THROUGH THEIR RENEWABLE DIESEL PLANTS.
FARMER BENEFITS
Camelina offers farmers a number of benefits. It’s a fast-growing plant and requires less water than many other crops. Farmers can grow the plant between other crops, not to take the place of a main crop like corn, wheat or soybeans. It’s a cover crop, where it’s planted in the winter (survives harsh winters) or spring and can be harvested as a cash crop for biofuel or feed use. Camelina holds nutrients in the soil, and because roots don’t get harvested, it puts carbon and organic material back into the field requiring less fertilizer. The plant is hearty, relatively pest and disease tolerant, therefore requires less pesticides.
RENEWABLE PROPANE
To produce renewable propane, biorefineries are retrofitted to use feedstocks including soybean oil, camellia seed oil, field crop stover, animal tallow and cooking oil. More energy groups around the country are increasing their production of renewable propane through their renewable diesel plants. For example, Global Clean Energy owns a refinery in Bakersfield, California, where they’re retrofitting their plant to become a renewable fuels refinery to eventually process Camelina into ultra-low carbon renewable fuels, including renewable diesel and renewable propane.
In Sacramento, California, Elk Grove School District uses renewable propane-powered school buses. They began a few years ago and plan to expand their fleet. “We’re currently running about 20 to 30 school buses on renewable propane, and will consider more when older buses are retired,” according to Anthony Willis, supervisor of fleet maintenance.
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
In 2011, Detroit Metro Airport and Willow Run Airport teamed up with Michigan State University Extension (MSU) to grow up to 1,700 acres of Camelina, with over $400,000 in grant funding from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
In December 2022, MSU announced their $2 million Department of Energy grant to maximize Camelina’s oilseed yield, and its use as a clean jet fuel. The additional benefit of biofuel made from Camellia is that it won’t freeze at 30,000 feet.
The MPGA has reached out to MSU to learn more about their Camelina-Jet Fuel project and do a future video with them.
In 2010, the EPA established a process for companies to petition for new fuels pathways to qualify for Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Camelina Sativa is an approved crop to produce propane.
Derek Dalling is the Executive Director of the Michigan Propane Gas Association
Resources:
Propane.com, MSUtoday.msu.edu, CFANS University of Minnesota, MDPI.com, mwsmag.com, Sciencedirect.com
