The processing and refining steps implemented by oil mills for the production of rapeseed and soy oils, intended for the production of Biodiesel, have an impact on the concentration of acylated steryl glycosides (ASG) and steryl glycosides (SG). These minor components – natural components of vegetable oils – are suspected to negatively influence the filterability of Biodiesel.

Hart Energy Consulting and AGQM - Arbeitsgemeinschaft Qualitätsmanagement Biodiesel e. V. (German Association for Quality Management of Biodiesel reg. ASS) are currently preparing their first joint technical conference in Brussels on September 27th and 28th, 2010 themed ‘The Future of Biodiesel in Europe’.

German biofuel associations published a list of all commercial vehicles, which have received a release for the use of pure biodiesel (B100) or a proportion of 30 percent (B30) from their manufacturers. The list is based on a survey among commercial vehicle manufacturers carried out in the spring of 2010.

The Arbeitsgemeinschaft Qualitäts-management Biodiesel e.V. (Association Quality Management Biodiesel reg. ASS. - AGQM) organised its 4th International Conference of Biodiesel Producers on 31st May and 1st June, 2010. Right at the beginning of the conference, participants criticized the lack of coordination of the biofuels policy pursued by the European Union claiming it was a rag rug.

The blending quotas for biofuels required by law are dramatically different in the EU member states. The German Oilseed grower association UFOP “Union for the Promotion of Oilseeds and Protein Plants” sees this as an example of the poor level of harmonisation of the biofuel policies within the European Union.

Due to the fact that Germany is the only member country of the European Union so far to transpose the EU Directive on the Promotion of the Use of Energy from Renewable Sources (2009/28/EC) in national law, the Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP) and also the Association Qualitiy Management Biodiesel(AGQM) had responded by organising together an international workshop to answer questions and meet the obvious large information deficit in this area. The workshop took place in Berlin on 28 May 2010.

Round Robin Tests for the purpose of examining the test methods and the correct mode of operation in professionally working laboratories can look back at a long and successful history in the FAM – Technical Committee for Mineral Oil and Fuel Standardization of the German Institute for Standardization (DIN) of the Fuel and Lubricant Sector.

The Arbeitsgemeinschaft Qualitätsmanagement Biodiesel e.V. (AGQM – Association Quality Management Biodiesel reg. Ass.), is mainly focusing its activities on issues concerning the fuel quality and the engine technology. The work team’s efforts are aimed at further developing the fuel quality and at opening up the technically possible sales potential on the basis of an adapted standard for the Biodiesel quality (EN14214) or adapted requirements for blended fuel. Against this background, the AGQM has now organized its 4th International Conference for Biodiesel Producers, scheduled to take place in Berlin on May 31/June 1, 2010.

Jointly with other parties, AGQM successfully challenged several patents which were supposed to protect blends of mineral oil products and FAME (Biodiesel). Had those patents been granted, in many countries the production of Biodiesel blend fuels could have become subject to licensing which would have induced further deterioration and aggravation of the already difficult situation of Biodiesel producers.

The market introduction of bio-diesel as blending component in diesel fuel is making considerable progress at international scale. The increase of the blending share of bio-diesel from up to 7 (B7) to 10 vol.-% (B10) or more has not only raised eyebrows among car manufacturers who voiced their criticism in this respect.

The association Qualitätsmanagement Biodiesel e.V. (AGQM – Association Quality Management Biodiesel reg. Ass.), jointly with other opponents, has successfully attacked several patents which concern blending fuels made of mineral oil products and FAME (bio-diesel). These patent rights have been completely withdrawn after objections have been filed and hearings been conducted, even before the European Patent Court.

The Arbeitsgemeinschaft Qualitätsmanagement Biodiesel e.V. will hold its 4. International Conference in Berlin from 31 May to 1 June, 2010. The 2-day event will focus on current aspects of sales development and the market outlook for biodiesel. Participants will discuss the general government conditions in support of biodiesel, potential sales developments within the European Union and also look at major production and export countries, such as Argentina, the U.S.A. and Brazil.

TheStandard DIN 51628 urgently recommends oxidation stabilisers as biodiesel component in B7 fuel. This recommendation, which is based on practical experience, has been included in many binding delivery specifications for biodiesel throughout the world. Similar requirements are under discussion also for the revision of European Standards for blended fuels. DIN 51628 at the same time makes reference to additional no-harm requirements for such additives.

Biodiesel sales slumped by about 740,000 MT on 2009 in comparison with 2007. The pure fuel, the core product for biodiesel producers, distributors and filling station owners, dropped from approximately 1.85 million MT to 0.231 million MT within the same period.

A technical seminar organised by Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen e. V. (UFOP) jointly with Arbeitsgemeinschaft Qualitätsmanagement Biodiesel e. V. (AGQM) on 20&21 January 2010 received an unusually positive feedback. More than 120 representatives, most of them from the oilseed processing segment as well as the biodiesel and mineral oil industry, were welcomed by AGQM General Manager Dieter Bockey.

At its first meeting in 2010 on the occasion of the International Green Week exhibition, the members of the Board of the Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen e.V. (UFOP) discussed the necessity of a sustainable orientation in the development of the strategy for the sale of biodiesel and plant oil fuels.

In its latest release, DEUTZ AG reports on the state of release for the use of biodiesel as pure fuel. The release lists the engine series for which biodiesel has been permitted as pure fuel and the future TCD 2015 series, for which the release has been announced for 2010.

After the significant decline of the biofuels market share in transportation from 7,1% in 2007 to 5,9% in 2008, the new German government has promised a revitalization of the biofuel markets in their coalition agreement. In the now published draft law of the so called “Wachstumsbeschleunigungsgesetz” (“Law for accelerated growth”) the government proposes to freeze the actual tax on B100 and pure vegetable oils to this years’ rate for the next three years instead of the originally scheduled tax increase. But this measure won’t be sufficient to revitalize the markets, the more than 450 participants of the 7th International BBE/UFOP Conference on Biofuels, “Fuels of the Future 2009” on November 30th and December 1st in Berlin agreed.

On the occasion of the general meeting of AGQM Arbeitsgemeinschaft Qualitätsmanagement Biodiesel e.V., the Association activated its redesigned internet platform. The website of AGQM contains an abundance of information on biodiesel, quality assurance, research and development as well as a constantly wider array of the Association’s service activities.

The worst fears seem to be confirmed as the result of a hearing in the European Parliament on 3 November 2009. The Committee concludes that the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) responsible for the registration of chemicals under the European Chemicals Directive (REACH) is utterly unable to handle the situation and is grossly understaffed.Meanwhile they are even talking of an emergency plan in order to cope with the spade of applications which, according to ECHA Director General Geerd Dancet, is higher than expected by factor 20.

AGQM is announcing its forthcoming Focus Seminar for Analysts and Plant Operators. It will be held from 18.11.-20.11.09 at ASG Analytik Service GmbH, Neusaess near Augsburg/ Germany. 

Currently Biodiesel (RME) is mixed according to EN 14214 and EN 590 with up to 5% of fossil Diesel fuel. With a further increase of RME fraction to 10% (B10 blend), there are uncertainties regarding the undisturbed longlife behavior due to variations of the physicochemical properties of RME in compa

Modern cars can run on B10 fuel, i.e., fuel containing 10 per cent by volume biodiesel, under certain conditions. So far, suppliers have only released B7 fuel (7% admixture). This is the result of fleet tests organized by the Association of the German Bio Fuel Industry (VDB) with assistance of the Union for the Advancement of Oil and Protein Crops (UFOP).

Germany has been world champion in the number of filling stations selling biodiesel as B100 for many years. No other country had more filling pumps for pure biodiesel than Germany. The Arbeitsgemeinschaft Qualitätsmanagement Biodiesel e. V. (AGQM) assumes that the number of filling stations selling biodiesel until last year amounted to about 1,900 in this country.

At the round table discussions on biofuels held on 17 January and 5 June 2007 respectively, a joint strategy to promote biofuels – the Biofuels Roadmap – was agreed between Germany’s automotive industry, oil industry, SMEs operating in the oil industry, agricultural sector, Federal Environment Ministry (BMU) and Federal Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV).