Big Sky Biofuels offers on-farm seed crushing, biodiesel conversion
By Tom Howard
Billings Business, September 2008
If Paul R. Miller [a member of Northern Plains] has his way, farmers will soon begin powering their tractors and combines with fuel that they grow themselves.
Miller is owner of Big Sky Biofuels, a startup Billings company that will offer on-farm crushing and biodiesel conversion for farmers who have raised oil-seed crops.
“The idea is to encourage sustainable production and to have the farmer grow oilseed crops capable of fueling their operations,” Miller said.
Miller’s portable seed crusher and a generator that powers it fit on a flatbed trailer and can be hauled directly to a farm, where it can be used to extract oil from crops like canola, camelina, safflower and sunflower.
The crusher can process up to 5 tons of seed per day. Aside from yielding vegetable oil, the seed hulls can be used to make a protein-rich livestock feed, which can replace corn and other feed.
At the farmer’s option, the pressed vegetable oil can be converted into biodiesel, which is created by treating the oil with common chemicals. The process, known as transesterification, removes glycerine from the oil and yields a fuel that can be blended with traditional petroleum-based diesel. Some biodiesel advocates prefer to run their vehicles on 100 percent biodiesel, Miller said.
Biodiesel production has soared over the past decade, from barely measurable amounts in 1999 to more than 250 million gallons in 2007. Biodiesel supporters say it’s a cleaner burning, homegrown fuel that can help farmers break their dependence from imported oil.
Miller said he has made small-scale batches of biodiesel. The process isn’t too complicated, but it requires careful attention, he said.
The beauty of raising your own fuel is that the farmer can set aside a portion of his acreage to raise oilseed crops, Miller said. Some studies show that fuel for tractors, combines and trucks accounts for up to 80 percent of the input cost of raising crops, Miller said.
For now, Miller plans to let the farmer decide what to do with the oil he processes. If, for example, food-grade canola oil is selling for $10 per gallon, the farmer may choose to sell his product, reap a higher profit and continue to burn petroleum-based diesel fuel rather than creating biodiesel, Miller said.
Miller is the fleet manager for American Driver Service, a Billings company that hauls sugar beets for the Western Sugar Co. factory. Miller said he has tested a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel with no problems.
American Driver Service is a seasonal company that typically operates from September through January. Big Sky Biofuels is another seasonal business that provides a way for Miller to keep busy during the remainder of the year.
