The waste of one system becomes the fuel of another. This course guides students through the regenerative process of transforming used vegetable oil into clean-burning biodiesel—and how to make soap from the glycerin byproduct. Biodiesel is not just an alternative to petroleum; it’s a community-scale strategy for resilience, carbon reduction, and economic circularity. Drawing on Pangea’s operational biodiesel program in Taos, New Mexico, you’ll learn the collection, chemistry, equipment, and compliance necessary to safely run your own small-scale fuel operation. You’ll also learn how to convert the glycerin into artisan bar soap, turning waste into value-added products for homesteads, nonpro ts, or local businesses.
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Course Curriculum
- Why Biodiesel Matters Off-Grid
- Feedstock Sources and Collection
- Safety Fundamentals
- Chemistry of the Reaction
- Titration: Testing Oil Acidity
- Batch Processing Step by Step
- Quality Testing
- Cold Process Soap Fundamentals
- Plant-Based Oil Blends
- Community Scale Production
- Integrating Biodiesel into the Energy System
- Waste Stream Mapping and System Design