News
June 24, 2009
Pilot Project Has Eye On Sunflowers Fueling The Future
The City of Raleigh Public Utilities Department has several “green” projects in the works with an eye on saving fuel costs.
This year approximately 50 acres are planted with sunflowers to harvest the seeds for the oil they produce. The oil can then be processed at a facility to produce biodiesel. It is hoped that in the future the biodiesel could be used for the City’s farm equipment operated by the Public Utilities Department. The project is just in its infancy and costs have not been finalized.
According to Piedmont Biofuels, located in Pittsboro, turning sunflower seeds into biodiesel entails harvesting the seeds and letting them dry, de-hulling the seeds and sending them through a mechanical crusher to get the oil. The oil is then processed into biodiesel fuel. On average an acre of sunflowers can produce 100 gallons of biodiesel. That compares with 48 gallons per acre for soybeans and 127 gallons per acre for canola.
The City of Raleigh’s Neuse River Wastewater Treatment Plant generates biosolids as a byproduct from the treatment process and uses agricultural land for biosolids application. Sunflowers could serve as a valuable crop in an effort to produce an alternative fuel and reduce the dependency on petroleum-based fuels.
Prepared by:
Chris Riley
Senior Public Affairs Specialist
Public Affairs Department
For More Information Contact:
Tim Woody
Reuse Superintendent
Public Utilities Department
One Exchange Plaza, Suite 620
Raleigh, NC 27602
919-662-5700
|
