become available.” An increase in suitable new feedstock could help the bottom line for multi-feedstock biodiesel producers like Biox, who can continue to buy materials based only on lower overall cost. “We don’t know what the most appropriate feedstock will be five years from now,” says Lewis. “Will it be algae? Jattropha? Sustainable palm oil? Commercial-scale availability and cost will be the important issues for us. In order to stay competitive, we will always look to bottom feed on the available feedstocks and those feedstocks will continue to constantly change and evolve.” loCation beComes imPortant The element that doesn’t change is consumption, which is why Biox feels it is poised to continue as a strong player in the biodiesel market. Approximately one-third of Canada’s distil-late products are consumed in Ontario. Located in the heart of the Golden Horseshoe, just a 45 minute drive from downtown Toronto, Biox is in the heart of Canada’s largest consumption market. “The concentration of people, the need to move commercial goods, that’s going to happen where there’s density,” explains Lewis. “The people aren’t going to move. In fact, the density will only increase.” The current location, sandwiched between large industrial complexes in the Port of Hamilton, has paid dividends for Biox. Its neighbour to the west is one of Shell’s largest distribution hubs in Ontario. After years of shipping most of its biodiesel south to the U.S., with the commencing of a federal biofuels mandate and potentially an Ontario Renewable Diesel Mandate starting in 2014, Shell decided to partner with Biox on the con-struction of a pipeline connecting the Biox plant to the Shell Distribution Terminal located right next door. That project was completed in August 2013 and is the most effective and efficient method to deliver biodiesel into the distillate pool for distribu-tion and consumption. This new pipeline, which Biox believes is the first of its kind in North America, allows Biox to pump biodiesel directly into Shell’s distribution centre. “The next bastion of margin in the biodiesel market will be logistics costs,” according to Lewis. “This pipeline provides seamless in-line blending of biodiesel. It will eliminate any issues related to blending and handling, which have proven to cause problems in the past.” By using seamless in-line blending technologies, petroleum companies are able to ensure that the resultant blend will be of the highest quality and mitigate the potential for operating issues in transportation. That is something that the petroleum industry has been asking for as it seeks a more efficient and effective sys-tem for incorporating biodiesel into its fuels. That can help both industries move away from splash blending and move towards proper blending facilities. But the Hamilton location provides more than just access to petroleum distribution centres. The Port of Hamilton has solid rail, road and marine infrastructure, making it ideal for reaching Do you want to install pipe by welding, brazing or soldering it? Rhinoflex flexible pre-insulated piping has taken over the market for 4" and smaller pre-insulated pipe. It is a high quality product that has the lowest installed cost of any pre-insulated pipe.There are more than 300 miles of flexible pre-insulated pipe installed in the U.S. with more than 3,000 miles installed worldwide over the last 25 years! Rovanco s Rhinoflex pre-insulated flexible piping is manufactured with either a PEX or Polyethylene (PE) carrier pipe and comes in the longest continuous lengths available in the marketplace.These long lengths result in few or no underground joints.This saves you up to 60% in labor costs — yielding a total installed savings of 25 to 40%! Rovanco s Thousands of Miles of experience coupled with the tens of thousands of successful piping systems Rovanco has installed worldwide, assures you will get the correct product for your specific piping systems. Contact Rovanco for a quote. The high price of copper has made Rhinoflex even more competitive. Or do you want to install pipe by uncoiling it? Contact: CHAD GODEAUX , Product Specialist Rhinoflex Pre-Insulated Piping Systems Phone: (815) 741-6700 Fax: (815) 741-4229 E-Mail: chad @ rovanco.com Rovanco Piping Systems 20535 S.E. Frontage Rd. Joliet, IL 60431 Coils can be handled easily by 2 people . www.rovanco.com Canadian BIOMASS 23
Canadian Biomass January/February 2014: Page 23
