RME - produktion på gårdsnivå

With a shifting world market and periodically profitability issues, Swedish farmers seek alternative ways to enhance their profitability. One interesting alternative to get a higher value and enhance products is biodiesel, a way to improve the profitability on a farmscale. The diesel that is produced and sold, already have a mixture of 5% biodiesel, and there is a possibility to add more biodiesel to it. By developing new engines several engine-manufacturers now allow a mixture up to 100% biodiesel in their engines. Hence there is a market for an increased production of biodiesel. The aim of this study were to investigate the possibilities and the problems related to farm-scale production of biodiesel, and to study the profit margin in the production. It should also point out the key factors that affect the profit. In this degree project the existing literature within this subject was gathered and studied. The literature treats the production process and the key factors that affect the process. Facts concerning key factors that affect the production of biodiesel were gathered and pointed out so that the reader could understand the extent of biodiesel production. Economic key factors such as by-products and taxes are also illustrated. This degree project also illustrates possible use and markets for biodiesel. To investigate the profitability on a farm-scale production a calculation were made that points out the profitability and sensitivity to the global market. Diagrams show the key points for profitability and conditions for a profitable production. The most important conclusion that is drawn from this degree project is that there are good possibilities for a profitable and sustainable farm-scale production of biodiesel, and thereby to get a greater value from their products