Biodiesel Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions

When biodiesel displaces petroleum, it significantly reduces life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions. Life cycle analysis completed by Argonne National Laboratory found that greenhouse gas emissions for B100 are 74% lower than those from petroleum diesel. More recently, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) reported similar values for its life-cycle analysis of biodiesel from various sources.

When oilseed plants grow, they take carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air to make the stems, roots, leaves, and seeds. After the oil is extracted from the oilseeds, it is converted into biodiesel. When the biodiesel is burned, CO2 and other emissions are released and returned to the atmosphere. On balance, most of this emitted CO2 does not add to the net CO2 concentration in the air because the next oilseed crop will reuse the CO2 as it grows. A small fraction of the emitted carbon is fossil derived because of fossil fuel and chemicals used in farming and in the biodiesel production process.