Whether you own a gas station that offers ethanol or you're a scientist working to decrease dependence on fossil fuels, keeping up to date on biodiesel news and trends will benefit you professionally. Being aware of industry research and predictions helps you make economic and other strategic decisions.

Information about the biodiesel field can come from a variety of sources, and the Internet is a useful tool when searching for biodiesel news. Subscribing to news services and RSS feeds can deliver updates directly to your email in-box. To find biodiesel news and trends, consider the following:

1. Stay updated on scientific research and trends by reading scholarly journal articles.

2. Find industry rumors and gossip in biodiesel blogs.

3. Save time by visiting websites that compile biodiesel news articles.

4. Learn what consumers and professionals are saying by joining a biodiesel discussion forum.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find credible information in scientific journal articles on biodiesel

Reading scholarly articles on the biodiesel and alternative fuel fields will keep you updated on the latest research and trends. Authors of these articles are typically peer-reviewed scientists and the information comes from extensive observation and studies conducted both in laboratories and in the field.

I recommend: Find scientific journal articles on biodiesel at Inderscience Publishers. Enter "biodiesel" into the search field to read the latest articles published on the subject. The Institute of Physics also publishes articles on alternative fuels in its Journal of Physics.

Subscribe to blogs that examine biodiesel news and trends

Biodiesel blogs can include industry rumors and gossip, photographs, biodiesel equipment reviews and links to important industry resources. Unlike scientific articles, which take months or even years to reach publication, blogs can report biodiesel news and trends before the information is publicly known.

I recommend: Stay updated on biodiesel news and trends by reading the Biodiesel Blog. In addition to blog posts, the site also contains informative links to other relative sites. Oilgae, a website dedicated to following algae biodiesel news, offers a list of links to biodiesel blogs. This site also contains helpful links to other biodiesel resources.

Visit websites that compile the latest biodiesel news

Thousands of print, web and broadcast media report biodiesel news. Many times, articles about the alternative fuel industry run in media, like daily newspapers, that cover a broad range of topics. Visiting websites that compile biodiesel news stories allows you to read articles of interest you would have otherwise missed.

I recommend: For the latest breaking news on biodiesel, visit BioFuels Journal. Click on the website logo to view an archive of news articles. Biodiesel Magazine is a resource full of industry news, feature articles and columns on biodiesel. To quickly scan the day's biodiesel headlines, visit Alternative Energy. Clicking on the headline takes you to the full article.

Learn from others with experience making biodiesel by registering with a discussion forum

Joining a biodiesel discussion forum allows you to keep on top of biodiesel news and trends via word of mouth. These forums are an excellent resource for reading honest reviews and opinions about biodiesel supplies and equipment. Alternative fuel forums often offer a board for exchanging tips on how to make biodiesel.

I recommend: Register at the Biodiesel and SVO Discussion Forums to join in conversations about biodiesel production equipment, biodiesel kits, algae biodiesel or just biodiesel fuel in general. Join thousands of users participating in discussions about biodiesel at BioDieselNow. This forum provides a platform for discussing international use of biodiesel fuels.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When searching for biodiesel news and trends, always evaluate the credibility of the source. Scientific journals and news articles from reputable sources tend to be more reliable than blogs and discussion forums.

Consumers are looking for ways to lower their vehicle and home fuel bills. This includes business owners who are beginning to explore the process of making biodiesel fuels.

You need to know the definition of biodiesel in order to understand how to make biodiesel. Biodiesel is a non-petroleum-based diesel fuel consisting of short chain alkyl (methyl or ethyl) esters, made by transesterification of vegetable oil, which you can use (alone, or blended with conventional petrodiesel) in unmodified diesel-engine vehicles.

People may think that biodiesel production happens in "secret laboratories" or "hidden basement rooms," but this is not the case. However, it is far more advanced than using a child's chemistry kit, too. Biodiesel production equipment and biodiesel supplies are readily available on the Web and in conventional brick-and-mortar retail stores. People with little or no experience in chemical engineering use biodiesel kits for several reasons, including:

1. Reducing dependency on foreign oil and decreasing the demand using alternative biodiesel fuels.

2. Providing a more clean-burning fuel oil that is environmentally-friendly.

3. Slowing down the depletion of the global supply of one of the earth's most precious fossil fuel: oil.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn the biodiesel production process through online sources

You can create biodiesel 'from scratch' using fresh oil or by using waste oil. The Internet is a very useful tool for learning more about both methods. Using waste oil helps the environment by recycling used products into useful biodiesel.

I recommend: Using the waste oil as an example, Future Fuels Distribution Ltd. explains the production process in nine simple steps, starting with filtration of inbound waste oil through the separation and drying processes. A "fresh" process-algae biodiesel-involves using cultivated algae. You can get more information from a downloadable e-book titled "Making Algae Biodiesel at Home."

Find the right biodiesel equipment to suit your needs

You can create biodiesel anywhere using biodiesel production equipment, biodiesel supplies, biodiesel processors and biodiesel kits. You may not be able to buy this equipment at the local hardware store but you can certainly find it online.

I recommend: Look for a biodiesel kit that will fit into your building envelope-one that is compact and efficient. Home biodiesel kits can fit anyone's budget. Once you've made biodiesel, you have to store it somewhere. That is where fuel storage bladders from Interstate Products are the answer.

Sell biodiesel fuel in your community

If you want to sell the biodiesel fuel that you make, you need to find buyers. What may have been an impossible task a few years ago has become a lot easier thanks to the growing interest in biodiesel fuels as alternative fuel sources. Consequently, there are many buyers for your products.

I recommend: Filmore Fuels has developed a "community" of buyers and sellers of biodiesel fuel products. You can join that community by registering at their website. If you want to sell biodiesel fuel but aren't too crazy about making it, become a distributor for Yellow Brand Premium Biodiesel.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Don't be afraid to become a 'chemist' and make your own biodiesel. It seems complicated at first, but it is legal and safe.

Biodiesel fuel is good for the environment and it can save you money over traditional petroleum based diesel fuel. However this will only work if you know how to make it and use it correctly.

Biodiesel education and training is important because it can save you from damaging your car or truck's engine. A few things you need to learn before you go green are:

1. How to make biodiesel from common vegetable oils or find it available commercially;

2. How to convert a traditional diesel engine to run on biodiesel;

3. What impact biodiesel will have on your vehicle's engine and how to care for it properly.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Compare biodiesel's environmental impact to that of traditional fuel

Before you get started, you may wonder why you should even bother with biodiesel in the first place. If you do some reading it can help you understand just how helpful it can be to Mother Earth.

I recommend: Visit the Biodiesel website for a wealth of information on the environmental impact. Also, try to attend the National Biodiesel Conference and Expo. This will be your best chance to learn about all aspects of biodiesel in just three days.

Learn how to make or buy biodiesel

While you may think that making biodiesel is as easy as driving up to the nearest Burger King and asking for the leftover French fry grease, this is actually not the case. Using straight grease will clog your engine. There is a lot of skimming, straining and mixing involved.

I recommend: Visit Journey to Forever. This site has a comprehensive tutorial on making biodiesel, including information on biodiesel production equipment. Then go to Biodiesel and read the Guide to Buying Biodiesel. It will teach you all about commercial purchasing options.

Learn how to convert your engine from petroleum diesel to biodiesel

Some people start pouring biodiesel into their fuel tanks without the proper biodiesel equipment. This can shorten the life of their vehicles and ultimately lead to engine failure. Smart biodiesel users will first outfit their cars or trucks properly, making the biodiesel conversion run smoothly.

I recommend: Read Wired's step-by-step article on how to convert your engine with biodiesel kits. Then visit Golden Fuel Systems and consider ordering their educational DVDs. They cover everything from how your diesel engine works to additives and other biodiesel supplies you need to keep it working right. If you live in California, consider taking an equipment training class at the Solar Living Institute.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If your vehicle doesn't have a diesel engine, don't try to convert it to biodiesel. First of all, it won't work without a total and complete overhaul. Secondly, it will probably be much cheaper to just buy a new car that has a diesel engine.