At Brunnsholms Säteri, an integrated approach has been applied for production of biodiesel. The rapeseeds are pressed for oil production, the remains from the press are used as food for the animals and remaining biomass, the “straw”, is used for heating. A small scale but advanced process equipment was used for the fuel production. Even the remaining glycerol will find its use in a biogas production plant, nearby. The tractor, of course, uses the biodiesel on the fields and for the transport of the bio fuel to the bus depot in Enköping.
It may sound like an idyllic tale, but it is in fact a first step for local fuel production for the buses in Enköping.
There is an increased interest for full sustainability. It is not easy to achieve. But, in small and medium scale much can be achieved.
Today the whole concept was presented to the press and TV. Ylva Cohn (Upplands Lokaltrafik), Peder Rinman (Brunnsholms Säteri), Tom Mattsson (Swebus), Anna Wiklund (Enköping Kommun) and Volvo Bus Corporation are partners in this test.
I did some rough calculations and found that when running on biodiesel the fossil CO2 emission will be about 5 g per passenger kilometres when the bus is full seated with 58 passengers.
I would expect it to give one of the lowest values for environemental load ever achieved for person transports, including rail bound transports on “green electricity”.
After the event we were treated with a lunch at the mid 17th century estate of Brunnsholm.
