Educational resources | Piedmont Biofuels

This is a compilation of many years of educational resources on biofuels

For more information about biofuels and sustainability courses at Central Carolina Community College check out CCCC’s web page.

CCCC provides Continuing Education courses and a two-year degree program.

Piedmont Biofuels hosts biodiesel workshops on a bi-annual basis- Check our Events for upcoming workshops.

Piedmont has been involved in a number of biodiesel education projects, nationwide. Here are a few projects that you might find of interest:

SEET/ATEEC: The Sustainable Energy Education and Training (SEET) Project is being developed by the Advanced Technology Environmental Education Center (ATEEC) and partners to help build the capacity of energy and environmental technicians to meet the challenges of energy sustainability in the 21st century workplace. Rachel and Andy from CCCC both participated in the SEET program at the National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden, Colorado.

Carolina Biological- Biodiesel Lab Kits & Curriculum:

Piedmont developed this 3 lab curriculum for high school and college-level science educators. Check out this kit for a ready-to-go biodiesel production and quality lab to try in your classroom!

Craven County Schools

Craven County is located 40 miles from coastal Carteret County where over 700 acres of canola was grown in 2007. The Craven County Schools ‘Farms to Fuels Program’ benefits the students of West Craven High School and Havelock High School, local farmers and community members with training in the development of renewable fuels using agronomics for oilseed crops such as canola as a winter cover crop. Students in agriculture and science classes receive instruction, participate in hands-on training, visit fuel production facilities, and produce fuel to be consumed in a renovated bus and school tractor. These activities prepare students for the 21st century green economy and workforce that will impact eastern North Carolina. Instructors anticipate creating an interest in postsecondary training, college degrees, and other training opportunities in renewable energy fields. Piedmont’s Design-Build team constructed the training facility for Craven County.

Washington High School

Students in Agricultural and Chemistry courses at Washington High School in Beaufort County are producing biodiesel fuel from waste vegetable oil collected from school cafeterias and local restaurants. A 23’ wheelchair-accessible school bus has been outfitted as a mobile classroom for biodiesel production. Student-produced fuel will power several tractors used by the athletic department as well as a local-use activity bus. The hands-on program includes coursework and field trips to renewable fuel production facilities and a public information component that will teach Beaufort County students, parents, and community members about the environmental and economic benefits of renewable fuels. Piedmont’s Design-Build team also constructed the mobile classroom for Washington.

Introduction to Biofuels

Vegetable Oil as Alternative Fuel
Sound far-fetched? A man named Rudolf Diesel was doing exactly this over one hundred years ago. Find out how to make your own biodiesel fuel or convert your diesel vehicle to drive around on a clean, renewable alternative to expensive, highly toxic petroleum. This course will examine the historical precedent of using vegetable oil based fuels, the rise in popularity and dependence on petroleum, delve into the mechanics of diesel engines and vegetable oil fuel systems, explore the chemistry of biodiesel and the related technology, and discuss the environmental, social, economic, and political implications of using vegetable oil or biodiesel as alternative fuels. In the final third of the course students will work on group projects. This innovative program is the first of its kind in North Carolina and is a new learning experience for those committed to a sustainable future. Learn from experienced instructors. Classroom knowledge is supported by hands-on know-how to nurture local sustainable initiatives.

Download our Biofuels Curriculum! It’s here for your knowledge–open-source biofuels educational material. Leif and Rachel developed this 16-week course over a period of three years.

Energy Balance

NOx Emissions

Feasibility Studies

Biodiesel as a Business. – Iowa State Univeristy. Center for Industrial Research and Service. (560 KB)
Evaluating Biodiesel as a Value-added Opportunity. – Iowa State University. Department of Economics. July 2004. (188 KB)
Statewide Feasibility Study for a Potential New York State Biodiesel Industry. – New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. June 2003. (2.7 MB)
Economic Feasibility of Producing Biodiesel in Tennessee. – Agri-Industry Modeling & Analysis Group with Frazier, Barnes & Associates, LLC. (3.7 MB)
Feasibility of Biodiesel from Waste/Recycled Greases and Animal Fats. – Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Marketing and Services Division. October 2002. (320 KB)
Evaluate Biodiesel Made from Waste Fats and Oils. – University of Minnesota. Center for Diesel Research. June 2002. (288 KB)
Tennessee Soybean Producers’ Views on Biodiesel Marketing. – University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Department of Agricultural Economics. April 2003. (952 KB)
Mississippi Biodiesel Feasibility Study. Mississippi Biomass Council, Inc. September 2003. (9.7 MB)
St. Louis Biodiesel Pilot Program Evaluating the Feasibility of Using Biodiesel to Meet EPACT Requirements. Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Energy Center, Southeastern Regional Biomass Energy Program and the Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council. (1.9 MB)
A Study on the Feasibility of Biodiesel Production in Georgia. University of Georgia. Agricultural and Applied Economics. (356 KB)
Producing Biodiesel From Canola in the Inland Northwest: An Economic Feasibility Study. (424 KB)
Biodiesel in Oregon: Environmental Impacts and Economic Feasibility on the Columbia Plateau. Lewis & Clark College. Environmental Studies Senior Thesis. December 2004. (488 KB)
Biodiesel Feasibility Study: An Evaluation of Biodiesel Feasibility in Wisconsin. University of Wisconsin-Madison. Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics. March 2005. (616 KB)
Biofuels Project Development: Biodiesel Feasibility Studies. Brian Duff, BBI International. Presented at the Virginia Biodiesel Conference, James Madison University. November 2004. (2.6 MB)

Technical & Safety

Lifecycle Analysis

Health

Tier I Health and Environmental Effects Testing for Biodiesel National Biodiesel Board / US Environmental Protection Agency
Tier II Testing of Biodiesel Exhaust EmissionsLovelace Respiratory Research Institute
No Breathing in the Aisles Diesel Exhaust Inside School Buses National Resource Defense Council
Potential Biodiesel Use in the Nation’s School Bus Fleet National Biodiesel Board
Clearing the Air National Resource Defense Council
Children’s Exposure to Diesel Exhaust on School Buses Environment & Human Health, Inc. – Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 – Recommendations
School Bus Diesel Emissions State Environmental Resource Center
Bioassay Analyses of Particulate Matter From a Diesel Bus Engine Using Various Biodiesel Feedstock Fuels National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Report on Biodiesel Harvard University

Political & Legal

How to remit your road taxes
Title 9
Letter to the IRS asking about biofuels taxes Gary Liess
NC General Statutes ?105-164.13 “The retail sale, use, storage or consumption of alternative fuels is exempt from the state retail sales and use tax.”
The Real Price of Gasoline a report that analyzes the hidden external costs consumers pay to fuel their automobiles International Center for Technology Assessment
The True Costs of Petroleum a map that focuses on exposing the many ways in which petroleum and petroleum products affect us and the environment The Ecology Center