The Plastic Still - Home Ethanol Production

In Huntsville two retired engineers are making ethanol with a still that cost less than $200. You will enjoy seeing this video of their operation.

You can see both the Biodiesel and Ethanol PowerPoint presentations here.

Printable copy of plans for the Plastic Still.

The Plastic Still

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Home Biodiesel Production

Making biodiesel does not require a huge investment. In Athens my cousin Lance Hall makes Biodiesel in his garage. For a more detailed demonstration view our three part biodiesel presentation.

Before making biodiesel check out our new "Biodiesel Safety Timely Information Sheet."

Printable copy of Biodiesel Production plans.

Small Scale Biodiesel Production

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Auburn University's Used Cooking Oil To Biodiesel Program

Feeding the 25,000 plus students at Auburn University generates a lot of used cooking oil. See how we convert this waste oil into biodiesel for the University's tractors.

This process will work easily for any university, military base, prison or other institution that cooks for a large number of people.

Alabama Home Energy Options

Solar, wind, geothermal...what works in Alabama. Explore the possibilities in this timely information sheet that explored our states home energy options.

State Incentives for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

One of the most common questions I am asked is there any grant money available to fund my project. This database of state incentives for renewals and efficiency may not be an all inclusive list of money available but it is a good place to start looking.

Gasification Converts Wood Chips and Yard Waste into Usable Energy

Auburn University has a gasifier that is used to convert woody biomass that consist of chopped up limbs and leave into electricity. You can view a demonstration of Auburn's gasifier here.

If you are interested in making a gasifier you will want to view "Handbook of Biomass Downdraft Gasifier Engine Systems" from the Solar Energy Research Institute.

City makes Biodiesel from Used Cooking Oil

Municipalities have a lot to gain by converting their used cooking oil into biodiesel. It unclogs sewers and saves on fuel expenses. We are working with a dozen or so cities on this project. This is a very doable for a city. For step by step instructions, check out our publication "Producing Biodiesel for Municipal Vehicle Fleets from Recycled Cooking Oil" or watch this two part video.

Biodiesel Testing

Switchgrass and Canola Production

There is a lot of interest in switchgrass production. Dr. David Bransby has done work with it and has switchgrass test plots at the E. V. Smith Research Center that is located on the interstate between Montgomery and Auburn. The University of Tennessee has made a commitment to switchgrass production. Dr. Clark Garland who is the chair of the UT Biofuels Farmer Education Team has an informative four page fact sheet "Growing and Harvesting Switchgrass for Ethanol Production in Tennessee" . Canola has also caught the eye of a good many people. If you still want to plant canola after you check wheat prices and figure what you could make off that or other cool season crop the University of Georgia has it's canola production guide available that will help you avoid some production mistakes.

On Farm Oil Seed Press

Alabama oil seed crops that could be used to make biodiesel are soybeans, cotton seed, peanuts, sunflowers, and canola. Making biodiesel from these vegetable oils is easy but extracting the oils from the seeds is more difficult.

Irrigation Energy Savings

Irrigation energy cost are a major expense. You can reduce energy usage and cost by 30% or more by switching to inexpensive low pressure nozzles. See how it works.

Alabama Farmers Grow Their Own Fuel

Farmers dream of growing their own fuel. Auburn Energy Partners Dee River Ranch grow soybeans and sunflowers and crush the seeds. They use the oil to make biodiesel to fuel their tractors. They feed the meal to their cattle. See it yourself.

Recycle your used cooking oil at the following Alabama locations

Decatur

4212 Highway 31 South

Enterprise

529 Glover Avenue

Gadsden

Carver Community Center

Mitchell Community Center

Thompson Community Center

Fleet Management Complex

East Gadsden Community Center

Walnut Park Community Center

Elliot Community Center

Gadsden Water Works and Sewer Complex

Hoover

At any fire station

Montgomery

State Farmers Market, 1655 Federal Drive

If other locations need to be added to this list, please send the information to hallmah@auburn.edu