I hope someone told these gents that B100 is susceptible to biological contamination and can lead to corrosion of the tank. A few percent of mineral diesel avoids these problems.

Another, more serious issue is that the elastomers and fuel filter may be damaged by high biodiesel blends. They should soak a few spare parts in B100 and see what happens before filling it into a vehicle. If the materials swell, there is a substantial risk of clogging or leakage.

Finally, biodiesel has lower lubricity than mineral diesel. If the vehicle in question has a fuel-lubricated high-pressure pump, it may suffer increased wear and tear.

In any case, they should contact the manufacturer to see if they've already run any tests of their own. Just traing it out and seeing what happens could prove penny wise and pound foolish. The *engine* may not need modifications for biodiesel, but the fuel system may.

Aussie -

why not spend the money on solar panels instead and run a reverse osmosis desalination plant or two? Or, for that matter, why not use the available space for old-fashioned solar desalination under giant cupolas? As long as the saline run-off is pumped far enough out to sea, there should be no impact on the coral reefs. Water storage can be distributed, especially the portion required for residential and commercial use. A hydro dam that will uproots entire communities sounds like something the Chinese would do.

I'm equally interestged in knowing whether the planned residential community that's going up is layed out along conventional automobile-dependent lines, or whether it is more innovative and transit/walking/bicycle friendly. That's where the real impact of construction lies -- not in the origins of a few thousand gallons of construction equipment diesel, but in the energy that will go into sustaining the lifestyle that the neighborhood layout demands over the next half-century or so during which those buildings will stand.

Rafael
I think clogged injectors on the machine is the least of their problems. It's more the point that they save a few tons of fossil derived CO2 while indirectly adding hundreds of millions of tons via coal mining. The next dam won't produce hydroelectricity http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=47039
just drown a few hundred homes. The thinking on dam alternatives in Australia seems to be windpowered reverse osmosis of seawater, recycling of sewage (yum) and perhaps nuclear desal. Nobody uses lawn sprinklers anymore, in fact using less water would be critical most places.

Also, the modified OTEC would provide power for electrical production, or used for pumping water.

Allen -

agreed, Australia could become a major producer of renewable energy. However, any algae farming would have to be based on salt water plus solar-powered pumps, and therefore no too far from the coast. Plus, intensive algae farms need CO2 enrichment so some coal would be involved as well.

There are many other places where such a setup would make sense: Salton Sea in California, Mediterranean rim, Namibia, nothern Chile - to name a just few.

This paper from the University of Idaho appears to suggest that pressure is the main component of any lab test, making particular reference to the high pressures of any particular sort of pump somewhat irrelevant, i.e. the pressure measurement between sliding metal parts is the actual figure or merit for determining lubricity of any diesel / bio-petrodiesel blend.

http://www.uidaho.edu/bioenergy/BiodieselEd/publication/06.pdf

Here is something a bit more hands on from the US DOD Joint Services Technical library.

http://p2library.nfesc.navy.mil/issues/emergefeb2006/index.html

Regarding bio contamination of biodiesel, this news note from BP on contamination of regular diesel used in boats makes it clear that it's something one has to consider and deal with for either type of diesel. Maybe the current state of biodiesel standards and production allow more badly produced biodiesel to slip into the market?

http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/retail/retail_australia/STAGING/local_assets/downloads_pdfs/f/FN_fungal_contamination.pdf