Biofuels in Perspective

118 Biofuels
7.2 Plant Oil Biofuels: the Underlying Idea
7.2.1 History of the Plant Oil Fuel Market
ELSBETT created the market for plant oil fuels by introducing the ‘ELSBETT Engine’,
the first modern multi-fuel diesel engine worldwide. Some 30 years ago, Ludwig and
Günter ELSBETT developed this engine – and thereby revolutionized the world of diesel
engineering. This 3-cylinder engine was the first directly injecting, turbo charged car
engine ever. At the same time, this engine was the first modern engine to run on plant oils.
Developments as such laid the foundation for ensuing research and development work. This
has resulted in the design of conversion kits which facilitate the operation of conventional
diesel engines on plant oils.
Within the overall energy market, energy used for the operation of engines (‘fuels’)
represents a major share. More than half of the worldwide fossil fuel supply is used to fuel
the engines of around 800 million vehicles (Wüst, 2006).
Within the overall fuel market, fossil fuels (petrol and diesel fuels) predominate, with
bunker oil being a by-product which is used only for big ship engines. At present, the
overall biofuel share within the fuel market is still negligible, internationally averaging
below 2.0 %.
It is a well-disseminated anecdote that in the first decade of the 20th century, Rudolf
Diesel already experimented with peanut oil as a fuel for his engines. Later, biofuel options
later gaining dubious relevance as fuel for military use, e.g. during the Second World War.
Historic research of Hitler’s first Eastern offensive suggests that his tanks running out of
fossil fuel before reaching mineral oil sources in the Ukraine decisively weakened the
German forces.
Besides such niches, biofuels were put on hold until the energy crises at the beginning
of the Seventies. Since then, the market for plant oil fuels developed at an ever
accelerating pace. From the year 2004 onwards, this growth has been fuelled by dramatically
rising mineral oil prices and increasing political tensions in the Middle East.
After being stuck in a market niche for more than two decades, plant oil applications
are now considered a major fuel alternative for industrialized, emerging and developing
countries.
The key market developments and milestones are compiled in Table 7.1.
7.2.2 Positioning of Plant Oils within the Biofuel Markets
The various present and future options within the biofuel market can be distinguished
on the basis of the underlying motor technology and the corresponding approach to fuel
supply.
Biofuels are specific to each engine type: Otto engines (originally designed for the use
of petrol fuels), self-igniting diesel engines (originally designed for the use of diesel fuels),
electrical engines (concepts, e.g. fuel cells are still in their infancy).
Generally, the use of diesel engines is increasing, especially for utility vehicles, but also
for passenger cars. In Austria, more than 65 % of all newly registered cars have diesel
engines. The application of plant oil fuels is based on the diesel engine concept.