August 19, 2008 - Two new biodiesel studies have been released - the Renewable Diesel Characterization Study (RDCS) (pdf), and a related study, the Alberta Renewable Diesel Demonstration (or ARDD) (pdf).

The Renewable Diesel Characterization Study (RDCS) (pdf) is a suite of biofuel testing work that focuses on the chemical and cold temperature properties of renewable diesel fuels and blends.  The RDCS provides the Canadian marketplace with the most comprehensive fuel testing matrix of renewable diesel fuels and Canadian ULSD (Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel) fuels to date in Canada. A comparison of renewable diesels from a variety of feedstocks and renewable blends, including different petroleum diesels and blend levels is presented in the report.  

The Alberta Renewable Diesel Demonstration (or ARDD) (pdf) is a sister project to the RDCS, and is an on-road demonstration focused on cold weather operability, providing hands-on experience to expand the knowledge base of renewable fuels among the petroleum and renewable fuels industries as well as commercial end users.  The ARDD focuses on the real-world demonstration of renewable diesels in some of Canada’s most challenging climatic zones, using B2 in winter and B5 in spring and shoulder seasons, and using both fatty acid methyl ester (FAME, commonly known as biodiesel) and hydrogenation derived renewable diesel (HDRD fuel) in parallel demonstration environments. The ARDD Interim Report is a summary of the winter period using B2 blends; a final report will be available in Q4 2008.