Ecodiesel pioneers commerical production of biodiesel in New Zealand

New Zealand owned and Auckland-based Ecodiesel Limited, is successfully leading the charge in turning purified New Zealand tallow or animal fat, a by-product of meat processing, into a precious liquid ‘green fuel’ - biodiesel.
Ecodiesel announced today that it has secured sufficient equity from New Zealand investors to establish the first commercial scale biodiesel production facility in New Zealand. The plant will have the capacity to supply the Government’s biofuel obligation of a major oil company, with initial production of 20 million litres of biodiesel by the end of 2008, increasing to 40 million litres of biodiesel per annum by the end of 2009.  
Ecodiesel’s production of bio diesel will support this week’s introduction by Government of the Biofuel Bill. The legislation requires oil companies to blend a percentage of biofuels with the conventional fossil fuels available at the pump, commencing in 2008.
Biodiesel made from tallow has the lowest environmental footprint or Sustainable Process Index (SPI) of any biodiesel (according to the Institute for Resource Efficient and Sustainable Systems, Graz, Austria, Process Evaluation Report). Ecodiesel is an environmentally sound biodiesel which meets the Green Party’s amendment to the Biofuel Bill. The amendment, through the introduction of a sustainability standard, requires biofuels to demonstrate that they do not impact on our food supply and/or the environment. 
Dr Neil Domigan, Ecodiesel’s Commercial Director says, “After many years of research and development and having now secured sufficient investment we are able to progress to a commercial scale operation. It’s pleasing to be able to provide a cost competitive and sustainable biodiesel, produced from local by-products, to New Zealand consumers. We’ve been successfully running our own diesel vehicles on Ecodiesel for some time.”
Ecodiesel’s conversion process has already been proven, with its current Auckland demonstration plant producing commercial quantities of biodiesel.  This proven conversion process will be scaled up as the basis for the new commercial plant.
Ecodiesel’s patented conversion process has a plant capital cost that is up to 75% lower than publicly released capital costs of other biodiesel plants contemplated in NZ.  Ecodiesel’s process requires less heat and less fossil fuel than other plants of similar scale. This translates into reduced operating costs, which makes Ecodiesel’s production of biodiesel cost competitive and environmentally sustainable, especially when compared to crop sourced biofuels.
Ecodiesel is managed by a New Zealand based team of global experts in chemical engineering and biotechnology. It is supported by URS – one of the world’s largest engineering, environmental management and planning companies - with considerable experience in developing biofuel facilities. 
Biodiesel, a biodegradable and renewable biofuel, is successfully used internationally, particularly in Europe and the USA, to reduce the percentage of petroleum oil derived diesel used.
By using Ecodiesel product, both companies and individuals will reduce their carbon emissions and make their personal contribution to reducing climate change.