A Japanese group will test B30 biodiesel in construction machinery, as a step to blend more biofuels into conventional road fuels to cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
Japanese oil supplier Fuji Kosan will use B30 biodiesel for construction machinery, such as excavators and cranes, together with three other construction firms during the April 2023-March 2024 fiscal year. The B30 biodiesel consists of 30pc fatty acid methyl ester (Fame) produced from domestic used cooking oil and 70pc gasoil.
The project includes studying fuel efficiency, influence on the machines and exhaust gases, with around 120 kilolitre (750 bl) of B30 to be used during the period. The companies anticipate B30 can reduce 30pc of CO2 emissions compared with conventional gasoil. Fuji Kosan will also consider using the fuel for passenger cars and trucks after the B30 trial for construction machinery.
Data gathered from the project will be used to encourage the Japanese government to ease the country's quality assurance regulations on automotive biofuels, Fuji Kosan said. Japan's trade and industry ministry currently allows road fuels to blend Fame at maximum 5pc into gasoil, ETBE at maximum 8.3pc and bioethanol at 3pc into gasoline.
