Biofuel use in the UC System

1
Biofuel use in the UC System

• SIO 209 Environmental Policy
• October 13th, 2006
• Meagan Moore

2
UC Policy on Building Design, Clean Energy
Standards and Sustainable Transportation Practices

• UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA POLICY ON GREEN BUILDING
  DESIGN, CLEAN ENERGY STANDARDS, AND SUSTAINABLE
  TRANSPORTATION PRACTICES
• Resource sustainability is critically important
  to the University of California, the State of
  California, and the nation. Efficient energy use
  is central to this objective, and renewable
  energy and energy-conservation efforts provide a
  means to save money, foster environmental
  awareness, reduce the environmental consequences
  of University activities, and provide educational
  leadership for the 21st century.
• The University is committed to stewardship of the
  environment and to reducing the Universitys
  dependence on non-renewable energy sources. With
  this commitment in mind, we will regularly review
  initiatives and best practices and share
  successes by augmenting the existing University
  guidelines. These guidelines currently recommend
  that University operations
• Incorporate the principles of energy efficiency
  and sustainability in all capital projects within
  budgetary constraints and programmatic
  requirements.
• Minimize the use of non-renewable energy sources
  on behalf of the Universitys built environment
  by creating a portfolio approach to energy use,
  including the use of local renewable energy and
  purchase of green power from the grid as well as
  conservation measures that reduce energy
  consumption.
• Incorporate alternative means of transportation
  to/from and within the campus to improve the
  quality of life on campus and in the surrounding
  community. The campuses will continue their
  strong commitment to provide affordable on-campus
  housing, in order to reduce the volume of
  commutes to and from campus. These housing goals
  are detailed in the campuses Long Range
  Development Plans.
• The Office of the President will annually report
  to The Regents on the Policys impact on capital
  and operating costs, energy use, building design,
  and sustainable transportation practices.

http//www.ucop.edu/ucophome/coordrev/policy/PP011
706GreenBldgPolicy.pdfsearch22university20of2
0california20sustainable20transportation20polic
y22
3
Current Biofuel Use at UCSD

• UCSDs Fleet Services with Transportation and
  Parking Services are gradually increasing their
  use of alternative fuels in its fleet to meet UC
  wide Green Building, Clean Energy and Sustainable
  Transportation Policy
• Majority of buses use with Ultra Low Sulfur
  Diesel (ULSD) biodiesel blends (20 Biodiesel and
  80 petrodiesel) or compressed natural gas (CNG
  or LNG)

4
UCSD Fleet Services

• Each of the buses costs 500,000 and lasts 10-15
  years
• Buses purchased now will be committed to the
  associated fuel source for next decade
• Fleet Services works on cost operational system

http//pns.ucsd.edu/bus.jpeg
5
UCSD Near Future Biofuels Research- Part 1

• Greenline Shuttle Project (Winter/Spring 2007)
• Student-run Biofuels Awareness and Action Network
  is working with fleet services (Gary Matthews,
  Assistant Vice Chancellor to Plant and Auxiliary
  Services) to run one of the UCSD Shuttles on 100
  Biodiesel (B100)
• Project is to be a long term demonstration of
  B100 use in a campus shuttle (Hillcrest)
• Community/university support for biodiesel use
  with a public demonstration
• Serve as a model for widespread use of biofuels
  in transportation industry
• Prove technical and economic feasibility of bus
  fleet operation using B100

6
UCSD Near Future Biofuels Research- Part 2

• Chancellors Interdisciplinary Collaboratory
  Scholarship (Winter/Spring 2007)
• Environmental, health and economic aspects of
  using biodiesel compared to petrodiesel in 3-year
  integrated study
• Emissions testing, laboratory combustion of fuel,
  health effects on transgenic rats, life-cycle
  analysis
• Conclusion of study will be a thorough
  cost-benefit analysis
• People Steve Buckley, Mechanical Engineering
  Richard Carson, Economics Kim Prather,
  Chemistry/SIO Robert Tukey, Pharmacology/Chemistr
  y

7
UCSD Future Biofuels

• BAAN undergraduates currently working on a
  biodiesel processor design that will process UCSD
  waste restaurant grease on a small scale for
  educational purposes

8
Other UC SchoolsUCI

• Using B20 in fleet vehicles, including shuttles
• Tried B20 in stationary sources (e.g., emergency
  generators), with poor results
• Currently Conduct baseline testing on a 5.9L
  Cummins Engine Using Diesel 2, B20 and B100

Biodiesel at UC Irvine By Dick Sun, UCI
Environmental Manager
9
UCI Initial Results
Biodiesel at UC Irvine By Dick Sun, UCI
Environmental Manager
10
UCI Step 2

• Installed calibrated cat-back urea NOx reduction
  system from KleenAir Systems to optimize NOx
  reduction
• Performed testing using B100, NOx emissions
  decreased by 26.8

Biodiesel at UC Irvine By Dick Sun, UCI
Environmental Manager
11
UCI Next Steps

• Continue to monitor system over the next year
• Retrofit other shuttle buses
• Locate reputable vendor for B100
• Purchase 3 alternative fueled shuttle buses

Biodiesel at UC Irvine By Dick Sun, UCI
Environmental Manager
12
Other UC SchoolsUCR

• Undergraduate Project in Progress- Biofueling a
  Highland Hauler
• Use waste vegetable oil from campus to power one
  mass transit vehicle weekly
• Hope to expand to all university diesel vehicles

Christopher Salam, UCR Biodiesel Project
13
Other UC Schools

• UC Berkeley- Possible Biodiesel Processor??
• Others??

http//www.ucop.edu/ucophome/busfin/susttran/tps_l
inks.php