Legality of BioDiesel & Veg Oil as fuel; individual usage in Ireland, from Revenue

Capt'n Midnight · 25-06-2013 01:59PM

imakebiodiesel wrote: »

The plastic is not burned.. It is heated in an oxygen free atmosphere until it boils at 385C. The vapours of long chain hydrocarbon(s Plastic) are cracked into short chain hydrocarbons ( fuel) and condensed and collected. The resultant fuel is kerosene which burns cleanly. I have used it for home heating without any adjustment to my boiler.
Clean sorted plastic is too valuable for this processand should be recycled. Dirty mixed waste plastic, which is very difficult to recycle, is ideal and would otherwise go to landfill. The yield is 1.1 litre of kerosene from 1kg of waste plastic. There is about 30 grams of char left as residue and it is 98% carbon. The rest is gas which is used to help fuel the process.

Be very aware of old plastics like tv and computer cases ,that may have used brominated flame retardants, there are other adulterants too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brominated_flame_retardant

imakebiodiesel · 26-06-2013 12:20AM

If I cant identify a plastic as either PE or PP, I dont use it. There is so much waste plastic available I can be fussy about what I will take. Two local businesses keep all of their resin code 2, 4 and 5 plastics for me. Ive made it clear to them that if they put any other stuff in the bin I wont come back.

Fat Cant · 27-06-2013 09:09AM

Can you run your car on this fuel ?
How much can you make in a day and how much of your time would you put in in that day?

imakebiodiesel wrote: »

If I cant identify a plastic as either PE or PP, I dont use it. There is so much waste plastic available I can be fussy about what I will take. Two local businesses keep all of their resin code 2, 4 and 5 plastics for me. Ive made it clear to them that if they put any other stuff in the bin I wont come back.

imakebiodiesel · 27-06-2013 05:00PM

This is kerosene so it would not be suitable for a diesel engine. The lack of lubrication would cause damage quickly. It has a specific gravity of 0.80 which would mean it would fail customs and excise roadside tests and result in prosecution.
This is really only for heating oil or other uses for standard kerosene.

At present it takes an hour to clean out the retort and load it up with plastic. The lid is then bolted on and the heater switched on. After that the automatic PID controllers take over It runs for about 4 to 5 hours and produces 16.5 litres of fuel. I dont have to do anything so I get on with work and just keep an eye on it from time to time. During that time it burns 7 litres of fuel.
At the moment I am developing a continuous feed system that would increase the output to about 50 litres over 10 hours with about 15 litres of fuel consumed.

Fat Cant · 19-12-2013 11:27PM

Hey mate
How are you getting on with this project ,r u getting to make it faster and easier ?

imakebiodiesel wrote: »

This is kerosene so it would not be suitable for a diesel engine. The lack of lubrication would cause damage quickly. It has a specific gravity of 0.80 which would mean it would fail customs and excise roadside tests and result in prosecution.
This is really only for heating oil or other uses for standard kerosene.

At present it takes an hour to clean out the retort and load it up with plastic. The lid is then bolted on and the heater switched on. After that the automatic PID controllers take over It runs for about 4 to 5 hours and produces 16.5 litres of fuel. I dont have to do anything so I get on with work and just keep an eye on it from time to time. During that time it burns 7 litres of fuel.
At the moment I am developing a continuous feed system that would increase the output to about 50 litres over 10 hours with about 15 litres of fuel consumed.

ppesce · 20-02-2014 04:36PM

imakebiodiesel wrote: »

I would agree with Mat Simis that the approach of the Revenue is illogical and contradictory but not draconian. I started making my own biodiesel 4 years ago. I make 150 litres every 2 weeks, it takes about 3 hours and costs 14 cents per litre( includes chemicals and electricity but not labour.)

I contacted the revenue service in Waterford and an officer came out to visit me. He explained that I would have to register as an Authorized Fuel Warehouse and helped me complete the 2 page form. When it came to the section where I needed to submit an architect drawn plan of my property, a health and safety audit and an environmental impact study, he just stroked through them as not applicable to an enterprise of my small scale.
I now send them a statement every 3 months detailing how much fuel I have used on the road and how much as heating oil with a cheque for the duty.
My road fuel costs a total of 56cents per litre and I sleep well at night.
I found the revenue services to be very approachable and helpful.

I believe there is a place for small biodiesel producers.
If you want to see biodiesel being made I demonstrate the process every second Saturday at my workshop in Lismore , County Waterford.
Phone 0863169230 for details and directions or visit the Ireland Biodiesel forum at www.biodiesel.infopop.cc

Wow I am very interested in how you make the stuff.
I have been I contact with a supplier in USA and they have an automatic machine like a petrol pump but more expensive than the one you have.
What kind of system do you have and where can I purchase one?
Also I would love to come down to Waterford and see how you make it.
I am from Wicklow so not to far.

BorneTobyWilde · 24-12-2015 06:44PM

Using WVO as an additive to reduce emissions ok> No duty can be paid on additives . So to add wvo to diesel as an additive would be legally ok?

MOB993 · 30-01-2016 09:47PM

After reading this thread many times now I'm still not certain that I could use vegetable oil be it new or used as a fuel in my vehicle. I have contacted the revenue and they don't seem to be certain either. Any body have any news???

BorneTobyWilde · 30-01-2016 11:10PM

MOB993 wrote: »

After reading this thread many times now I'm still not certain that I could use vegetable oil be it new or used as a fuel in my vehicle. I have contacted the revenue and they don't seem to be certain either. Any body have any news???

What did revenue say?
I would think that if someone had a free source of vegetable oil that they could use it . A substitute diesel fuel duty is 47.9 c per litre so cheap fuel.
As for paying no duty I have no idea.
It would seem by revenue site that a substitute diesel fuel is fine as it's on the list of excise duty for fuels, same rate as diesel.

MOB993 · 30-01-2016 11:59PM

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

What did revenue say?
I would think that if someone had a free source of vegetable oil that they could use it . A substitute diesel fuel duty is 47.9 c per litre so cheap fuel.
As for paying no duty I have no idea.
It would seem by revenue site that a substitute diesel fuel is fine as it's on the list of excise duty for fuels, same rate as diesel.

I contacted a general email address of theirs and I was told that it was hypothetical and was unsure. He simply asked my location to put me on to someone local. I haven't been able to chase up locally by phone due to work though.

So your saying that veg oil could be considered as a diesel substitute and pay (some how) and all should be good. I will contact my local revenue and see can they give me any further information.
Will post my findings.. Cheers

Marlow · 31-01-2016 10:51AM

I've been down at Imakebiodiesels place a few years ago to see, how he makes biodiesel.

And yes, that's the way it's done. You have to register, pay the duty for the fuel that you use and it'll all be above the board. That's what he does.

Now, the issue is, that you create as much paperwork for Revenue, as a big oil distributer does. So, of course they'll be reluctant to get it done for you

But as for legal means, yes it's doable.

It was even suggested a few years ago to implement the 1500l duty free rule for personal use like in the UK. Revenue actually wasn't against it, as it would have reduced their overhead and paperwork considerably. But the minister in charge at the time was of the opinion, that they wanted every single dime in tax money, they could get their hands on, no matter if it made sense. So the idea was scrapped.

/M

MOB993 · 31-01-2016 10:56AM

Marlow wrote: »

I've been down at Imakebiodiesels place a few years ago to see, how he makes biodiesel.

And yes, that's the way it's done. You have to register, pay the duty for the fuel that you use and it'll all be above the board. That's what he does.

Now, the issue is, that you create as much paperwork for Revenue, as a big oil distributer does. So, of course they'll be reluctant to get it done for you

But as for legal means, yes it's doable.

It was even suggested a few years ago to implement the 1500l duty free rule for personal use like in the UK. Revenue actually wasn't against it, as it would have reduced their overhead and paperwork considerably. But the minister in charge at the time was of the opinion, that they wanted every single dime in tax money, they could get their hands on, no matter if it made sense. So the idea was scrapped.

/M

Thanks for that I knew that biodiesel could be used legally but not using wvo. The defender I have would run happily without modifications but I want to install a twin tank system.
If I hear back from revenue I will post my findings

Legality of BioDiesel & Veg Oil as fuel; individual usage in Ireland, from Revenue

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