Renewable fuels and generators?

[mglonnro]

Hello hello!

I've understood there are quite a few complications getting traditional marine diesel engines to work adequately with renewable diesel.

Would going electric with a genset make any difference to this? Are there gensets on the market that have less of a hard time digesting the renewables? Or can be more easily maintained to mitigate the negative effects?

[Lepke]

As far as fuel, a diesel running a generator is no different than a diesel running a prop.
Biodiesel is usually added to diesel, not run 100%. Biodiesel decomposes faster than diesel, attracts water, and allows organisms to grow faster than petroleum diesel. It also acts as a solvent, cleaning tank sludge that then plugs filters.

If you're running 100% biodiesel, you need to use it or loose it. It doesn't store well. And the hoses and seals in the fuel system need to be rated for Biodiesel or they will degrade. Engines running biodiesel usually have a black goo buildup in the injector pump that makes it thru the filters.
Biodiesel quality varies widely depending who or what company makes it. Some carries a fine grit that passes thru the filters and leaves the injector pump insides looking like they were sandblasted.