Department of Administrative Services

Press Release

For Immediate Release	For More Information:
September 8, 2008	Robert Bailey, 515-265-7056

 

State set to test BioOil®
Renewable fuel will cost less, burn cleaner

DES MOINES — The dream of cutting public dependence on petroleum-based fuels is getting one step closer with a planned testing by the State of Iowa Department of Administrative Services-General Services Enterprise (DAS-GSE) in partnership with Dynamotive Energy Systems Corporation and Biogreen Resources this week.

The agency, responsible for all heating and cooling on the Iowa Capitol Complex, will conduct a test of BioOil derived from wood sawdust Wednesday, September 10 and Thursday, September 11. Currently, diesel fuel is used to power boilers on the Capitol Complex. The test establishes the State of Iowa as a leader in the implementation of bio-fuels as no other state government in the United States has conducted such research.

BioOil can be derived from any cellulose type plant material, including wood, switch grass and corn. The primary by-product of BioOil is biochar, an organic material that is carbon negative and can be integrated into the ground, reducing the need for chemical inputs by improving soil fertility. Biochar, produced by Dynamotive under the trademark Cquest™ and associated with the test on the Capitol Complex, will be used in research by the National Soil Tilth Laboratory in Ames.

Although BioOil contains only half the thermal capacity of diesel fuel, the cost for using twice as many gallons to reach the same heating capacity would be 10 percent less than current levels. Combined with its cleaner burning characteristics and useful by-products, BioOil could be an important part of reaching the renewable energy goals set by Governor Chet Culver.

BioOil® is a registered trademark of Dynamotive Energy Systems Corporation. Tom Bouchard, COO of Dynamotive, will be available until 1 p.m. Wednesday, September 10.

About the Iowa Department of Administrative Services (DAS)
DAS was created July 1, 2003, as a way to manage and coordinate the major resources of state government; its mission is to provide high quality, affordable infrastructure products and services to Iowa state government customers in a manner that empowers them to provide better service to the citizens of Iowa and support the State of Iowa in achieving economic growth.  http://das.iowa.gov/

# # #

Return to Press Releases