Every second bus in Helsinki may soon run on second-generation biodiesel

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Half of the Finnish capital's buses may well run on a second-generation biodiesel next year. If the planned three-year experiment materialises, the particle emissions of buses could drop by up to a third from their present level.
      Furthermore, carbon dioxide emissions, which are regarded as the main cause of the greenhouse effect, could be reduced by a half from the level generated with the present biodiesel.
     
The experiment is based on a new, updated version of biodiesel. Apart from reduced emissions, the fuel's main advantage is that it is more suitable for the present diesel engines of buses.
      The start of larger-scale production of the fuel at a Neste refinery is scheduled for next year. The introduction of the improved biofuel in the capital area bus services is supported by the Helsinki City Transport (HKL) and the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council (YTV). The project is in part Finland's response to the ambitious EU goals set for 2010, by which time 5.75 percent of European transport should be powered by biological fuels.
     
The second-generation synthetic biofuel is based on a new manufacturing method developed by Neste. The fuel can be produced from biomass, animal fat, or even cooking oil.
      The synthetic biodiesel can be used as such, as a 100-percent solution. This would result in a 30-percent reduction of particle emissions. The reduction of particle emissions is one of the key objectives of the trial.
     
Two questions remain to be solved in order to facilitate the larger-scale use of biofuels in transportation: taxation and distribution. The manufacturing of synthetic fuels is expensive. Without State support, the experiment is at risk to run aground before it even starts.
      Calculations reveal that with the present level of consumption, releasing biological fuels from taxation would cost Finland EUR 3 million per year.
      How to distribute the new fuel is another question. In the capital area, there are nine bus companies providing public transportation services, with a fleet of about 1,400 buses.
      According to plans, around 700 of these vehicles would take part in the experiment. Not every bus depot could provide biofuel, however.
     
A Neste filling station, in Helsinki's Hietalahti district was the first one in the capital area to add biogasoline to its product selection on Wednesday.
      The new product was introduced in the 98-octane fuel category, which meant the selling was somewhat sluggish. Nine petrol cars out of ten run on 95-octane gas, in which category there are no eco-friendlier options available.
      The new product was priced at EUR 1.429 per litre, against the EUR 1.399 price tag of the regular 95-octane version.
      Within the next few weeks, the new eco-friendlier gasoline will be introduced at all Neste filling stations south of the line drawn between Hanko-Tampere-Jyväskylä-Joensuu.
      The price of the novelty will be a couple of cents higher per litre than that of regular 98-octane gas. This is because the raw materials are more expensive, but also because the Finnish government does not yet provide any tax incentives on the sale of the eco product.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Majority in Parliament want to remove tax on biofuel (28.2.2006)
  Finland lags behind other EU countries in developing bio-fuel for transport (3.10.2005)

Links:
  Neste Oil – Biofuels

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