Written on: October 11, 2021
Biofine Developments Northeast Inc. of Bangor, recently announced that it has reached a tentative agreement to locate its new multi-phase biofuels refinery on a former mill site in Lincoln, Me. The facility is expected to be operational in 2023.
Biofine will partner with Sprague Resources LP, of Portsmouth, N.H., one of the largest distributors of Bioheat® fuel, a mix of traditional heating oil and biofuel.
Biofine will use its technology to convert woody fiber waste from lumber and paper mills into ethyl levulinate, which the company has branded EL100. The goal is to convert 100 tons of wood waste per day, which will result in an estimated three million gallons of ultra-clean heating oil each year.
The company reports that EL100 emits zero greenhouse gas emissions and, like Bioheat fuel, it can be used safely with current home heating oil systems.
This is the latest example of the quest to find more eco-friendly renewable liquid fuels. The continued growth of Bioheat fuel already results in a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions!
The efficiency and cleanliness of Bioheat fuel are leading us on a bright path to a carbon-neutral future that is not too far away.
Here’s an example of how Bioheat fuel is already making an impact. Just two heating oil retailers in New England displaced nearly 1.5 million gallons of heating oil with approved Bioheat fuel in the first half of 2020. Doing this resulted in an 80% reduction in GHG emissions, compared to traditional heating oil.
For the heating oil industry to achieve its 2023 target of 15% fewer emissions, the standard Bioheat fuel blend will need to be in the 20% range. The good news is that there are already many heating oil companies in New England that are delivering Bioheat fuel at this level. Some are even delivering blends as high as 50% (B50 Bioheat SuperPlus™ fuel)
The production of Bioheat fuel supports local industries, local farms and local economies. Switching to Bioheat fuel, which is a gallon-for-gallon substitute for higher-carbon-intensity, petroleum-based fuels, does not require any changes to current high-efficiency heating oil systems. In fact, running your heating oil system on this cleaner fuel will mean your system is operating more efficiently and you’ll need fewer repairs and maintenance over time. It’s truly a win-win. Bioheat fuel is good for you, and good for the environment.
Read more about Bioheat Fuel.