Fish biodiesel is a novel green energy solution that has been used by a fish farm in Åland, Finland, for several years. The biodiesel is produced using fish oil generated from fish waste. The farm has been able to successfully utilise the produced biodiesel in its own operations as well as in the public transport system in Mariehamn.
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Greener and more sustainable energy with fish biodiesel
As non-renewable, environmentally harmful energy sources are estimated to run out during the coming decades, it is important to develop new, more environmentally friendly renewable energy sources. Biodiesel made from fish waste is one these potential sources. In addition to providing carbon-neutral and fossil-free biodiesel, this technology also provides a productive way to dispose of fish waste. In Eckerö, Åland, a fish farm named Storfjärdens Fisk AB has been turning fish waste into biodiesel since 2009. The company uses the fuel for its own operations and also provides biodiesel for the buses of Mariehamn. In 2013, the town became the first town in the entire world to have all of its public transport vehicles running solely on fish biodiesel. All of the town’s four buses and three mini-trains operating in the summer used 100% fish biodiesel. In 2016, two of the four buses and the mini-trains still run on fish biodiesel.
Biodiesel production in Eckerö, Åland
Even though the technology for producing biodiesel from fish waste is not new, it is still a promising field for a region like Åland where there are many small fishing villages that produce large amounts of fish waste. Storfjärdens Fisk AB has been a local pioneer in the field. The company has even developed its own esterifying equipment for washing the glycerin off the biodiesel. The plant produces approximately 400 liters of fish biodiesel a day. In a year, the plant can turn 15–20 m3 of fish oil into biodiesel. So far, the company has been using its fish biodiesel for its own operations and for the bus company Röde Orm in Mariehamn. Proper commercial sale has not been implemented yet. One of the reasons for this is the taxation disincentive: biodiesel is still taxed just as heavily as fossil fuels.
Production process of fish biodiesel
Disposing of fish intestines by other means than using them as mink feed is considered problematic. The waste contains approximately 20–30% fish oil. When producing biodiesel from fish waste, the fish oil is first separated from the waste using formic acid. When methanol and lye are added, two layers are formed: the glycerine from the oil will sink to the bottom of the tank and biodiesel is left to float on the surface of the tank. The fish biodiesel has to be washed with water and filtered before it is ready for use. The biodiesel can be used in regular diesel vehicles without needing to modify the engines and the fuel consumption is the same as with regular diesel. It has been said that the bus Torgunn in Mariehamn is now running more efficiently with fish biodiesel than it was with regular diesel.
Regional dimension
In small fishing towns all over the world, biodiesel production from fish waste is a viable option in the transformation toward more environmentally friendly transport. The volume of transport in these small towns and villages is rather small and there is often an abundant stream of fish waste to utilise. The example of Mariehamn aptly demonstrates that such a system has functioned efficiently in a town with a population of 11,000. For existing fish farms, fish biodiesel production is an ideal way to utilise waste while at the same time cutting operational costs. There is great potential for the growth of biodiesel production in Åland and across the world. Fish biodiesel is carbon neutral and free of fossil fuels and sulfur, which makes it a sustainable source of energy.
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