Social innovation never stops at C4L, it is our raison d’etre. Here is a new and exciting prospect!
Homegrown fuel
If a diesel or petrol vehicle is fitted with either hybrid system (hydrogen or electric), then it can also run on biofuels. Commercial farmers and taxi-owners in particular should think of the implications! Imagine growing sunflowers on your own farm to power your vehicles, trucks and tractors!
An oil press and a centrifuge are used to extract and clean the oils. Then comes mixing. Legally, you are mixing “additives” with commercial fuel. You are not opening a refininery or distillery.
You basically mix one part petrol to nine parts oil. Pour this into the fuel tank and your engine will run on it – with more power than ever and a lower carbon footprint than ever. Engine life will last longer. The catalytic converter will plug up if not removed; so remove it and sell it. Emissions testing will confirm that a hydrogen combusting engine is burning up carbons completely.
Mixing elements
There is a clear distinction between “biofuel” and “fossil fuel”. In Germany, many truck run on “biodiesel” which is derived from rapeseed or canola oil. In Brazil, about 40 percent of vehicles run on ethanol, derived from sugar cane and sugar beets. Think homegrown fuel.
Alternatively, a centrifuge can used to clean used engine oil. Don’t throw it away! (That in itself is pollution if not done properly.) Rather recycle it, by mixing one part petrol to nine parts clean oil. Remember – this is an additive. Pour into the fuel tank and your engine will run on it – with more power than ever and a lower carbon footprint than ever. Engine life will last longer.
Commercial farmers or taxi-owners can set up oil presses and centrifuge in their own repair sheds. Think of the savings of running on recycled motor oil! A penny saved is a penny earned.
Training for quality control
Some training and tools will be needed – how to check fuel viscosity, measure emissions, etc. But once again, there is huge potential to reduce youth employment in South Africa by offering this training. The agricultural skills of growing sunflowers, avocados or peanuts commercially are not included. Avocado oil may be too precious to recycle in this way (diesel may be cheaper?). But after the Grade A fruit is exported and the Grade B sold nationally, you may have damaged or unsold fruit left over. Here is a way to redeem some value from your surpluses.
The scope of C4L training could include alcohol-based fuel as well, not necessarily from sugar cane but from rotting surpluses of fruit.
Biogas
C4L is exploring the capture of methane from underground septic tanks, for use as cooking fuel in the kitchen. This technology is used in Asia, for example by pig-farmers. Manure is deposited into underground tanks, generating methane. This is then captured and piped to the farm kitchen to run the cooking stove.
