This Plant Offers Zero Emission Propane Fuel
By Derek Dalling, MPGA Executive Director
Propane Powers Michigan with Cleaner Fuel
Propane has long served as a clean-burning energy source. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it qualifies as a “clean-burning alternative fuel” and has powered light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles for decades.
Fueling Homes, Farms, and Fleets
In Michigan, propane fuels over 30,000 vehicles, thousands of home furnaces and water heaters, generators, forklifts, and agricultural equipment. Its three-carbon molecular structure contributes to near-zero emissions and a low carbon intensity score. As a result, propane offers fuel diversity that supports energy reliability across residential, commercial, and agricultural sectors.
Renewable Propane Expands Clean Energy Options
Today, renewable propane is emerging as a powerful complement to traditional propane. Made from biomass-based feedstocks, such as used cooking oil and animal fats, renewable propane produces zero net carbon emissions. It also has a lower carbon intensity than conventional propane, making it a growing force in the clean energy transition.
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
Camelina: A High-Protein Crop with Industrial Potential
Camelina is high in protein, ranging from 24% to 31%. While it’s not particularly appetizing as a food source, it holds substantial industrial value. In fact, Camelina oil is now used to produce jet fuel that meets the same performance standards as petroleum-based aviation fuel.
An Ancient Plant with a Global Footprint
Camelina has deep historical roots. It originated in India around 3,000 BC and, based on archaeological evidence, was also cultivated along Europe’s coastline nearly 8,000 years ago. Today, farmers grow it across the Mediterranean, Europe, Asia, and North America.
Low Carbon, High Impact
Camelina oil boasts one of the lowest carbon intensity scores among biofuels. When used in place of petroleum fuel, it can cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 60%—a significant step toward more sustainable aviation.
MORE ENERGY GROUPS
AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE INCREASING THEIR PRODUCTION
OF RENEWABLE PROPANE THROUGH THEIR RENEWABLE DIESEL PLANTS.
FARMER BENEFITS
Camelina offers a variety of advantages to farmers. It grows quickly and needs less water than many traditional crops. Even better, farmers don’t need to replace their main crops like corn, wheat, or soybeans. Instead, they can grow Camelina between seasons. As a hardy cover crop, it can be planted in either winter or spring, surviving harsh cold, and then harvested as a cash crop for biofuel or livestock feed.
In addition to generating revenue, Camelina helps protect and enrich the soil. Since the roots remain after harvest, they return carbon and organic matter to the ground, which reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers. Furthermore, the plant’s natural resistance to pests and disease means fewer pesticides are required, lowering overall input costs.
RENEWABLE PROPANE
Producing renewable propane starts with feedstocks like soybean oil, Camelina seed oil, crop stover, animal tallow, and used cooking oil. To support this shift, biorefineries are being retrofitted nationwide to process these renewable materials. Many energy companies are expanding their renewable propane output alongside renewable diesel production.
For instance, Global Clean Energy is retrofitting its refinery in Bakersfield, California. The facility will eventually process Camelina into ultra-low-carbon renewable fuels—including both renewable diesel and renewable propane.
This fuel is already being put to work. In Sacramento, California, the Elk Grove School District has incorporated renewable propane into its school bus fleet. “We’re currently running about 20 to 30 school buses on renewable propane,” said Anthony Willis, fleet maintenance supervisor. “We’ll consider more when older buses are retired.”
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
In 2011, Detroit Metro Airport and Willow Run Airport teamed up with Michigan State University Extension (MSU) to cultivate up to 1,700 acres of Camelina. The project was supported by more than $400,000 in grant funding from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
More recently, in December 2022, MSU secured a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The goal: maximize Camelina’s oilseed yield and expand its use as a clean jet fuel. A notable advantage of Camelina-based biofuel is that it doesn’t freeze at high altitudes—an essential feature for aviation, especially at 30,000 feet.
The Michigan Propane Gas Association (MPGA) has contacted MSU to learn more about the Camelina jet fuel initiative. They’re also exploring the opportunity to produce a collaborative video in the future.
Meanwhile, in 2010, the EPA established a formal process that allows companies to petition for new fuel pathways under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). As a result, Camelina sativa became an approved crop for producing renewable 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
