Australian University to Open Used Cooking Oil Biodiesel Plant

A team of students and teachers from CQ University are making advances in their project to turn waste grease and oil into cheap, renewable biodiesel. They have spent the past five years building a plant and hopes commercial production would start this year.

Fabrication teacher Paul Kelly said there had been a lot of interest in the pilot plant from industry and a major fuel company. Mr. Kelly said that the project was more about recognizing the achievements of the young students from the Mackay campus. Now the team has built a compact plant and is looking at learning how to test the fuel and analyze it.

Reports said that there were very serious talks happening between the University and Caltex. With this, the first CQU blend could be fuelling vehicles later this year. It will be timely as a biofuels mandate will come into effect in Queensland mid-next year.