Used cooking oil refers to any liquid, room temperature (68 degrees Fahrenheit), vegetable, or animal-based oil created while cooking or frying. Water and food crumbs could be included in it. Cooking oil scraps are not seen in brown grease. It is also known as waste cooking oil, is produced due to the frequent use of vegetable oils for meals in restaurants, hotels, the food industry, and domestic sectors.
Many countries have adopted renewable fuel standards or mandates requiring a particular percentage of biofuels blended with conventional fossil fuels. These policies are intended to minimize greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy security, and encourage using renewable resources. Used cooking oil is considered a valuable feedstock for biodiesel manufacturing, contributing to meeting these mandates.
The European Union (EU) has established ambitious targets for increasing the use of renewable energy in the transportation industry. The Renewable Energy Directive (RED) requires member nations to use at least 14% renewable energy in transportation by 2030. Biodiesel, notably made from spent cooking oil, is critical in achieving these goals.