Coconut oil as a biofuel in Pacific islands-challenges and opportunities

摘要

In the Pacific there are opportunities to use coconut oil and other vegetable oils as fuel for transport and the generation of electrical power. Technologies already exist that can combust crude coconut oil in adapted compression engines, or by means of an esterification process into biodiesel using a standard compression engine. The initiatives undertaken in the Pacific to use coconut oil in cars and generators have had different degrees of success. The technological challenges can be solved and economic applications can be found if the supply of oil is secured. Economically attractive niches are available for the use of raw coconut oil in adapted engines in remote communities with an abundant supply of coconuts and milling capacity. The production of biodiesel from coconut oil in combination with other vegetable oils can be set up commercially in larger communities for provision of cleaner fuels in cars and electricity generators.