Oct 12 - Datamonitor

US biodiesel producer Safe Renewables has begun supplying fuel for the nation's first, 100% biodiesel-powered electricity generating turbine plant, which is located in Conroe, Texas.

The plant, owned and operated by Biofuels Power Corporation, will produce up to 10MW of electricity for delivery direct to the grid.

Jeffrey Kissel, chairman, president and CEO of Safe Renewables Corporation (SRC), said: "This is a breakthrough for our company and the biodiesel industry as it represents the first commercial generating plant wholly powered by renewable fuel in the US. We are pleased that SRC has pioneered in perfecting the technology required to achieve this important energy advance.

"The new operation is particularly appropriate in the Texas market where an estimated 3,000MW of new power generation will be required in coming years. It is becoming increasingly difficult to use traditional power-generating fuels, such as coal, due to harmful emissions. Biodiesel produces low levels of emissions in power-generating applications."

SRC will supply up to one million gallons per month of pure biodiesel (B100) for the plant. The feedstock will primarily be poultry fat, sourced from large poultry processing operations in Texas.