I come across people every day that don't know the first thing about alternative energy - let alone biodiesel! (but they sure remember the TV programme that featured the algae debacle and are now sceptical about anything related). 

South Africa is an interesting place.  Many people would rather believe the negative publicity someone else has caused than look you in the eye and see the potential.  But, being the positive little go-getter I am, I just say "not even negative publicity is bad advertising". 

A year into full-time in the biodiesel unit manufacturing business (which mostly entailed reading up, surfing the net and re-inventing the wheel again and again) I may well now have more grey hairs, but am also more adamant than ever that there is no alternative but to keep slogging on - because times are changing.

Subscribing to Energy and Capital's online newsletter is recommended.  He provides news hot off the press from all over the world relating to alternative energy.  He believes that the price of oil will hit $100 dollars very soon.  My partner John (the technical brain of Bioman Energy) watches the news with a sort of sick glee to see what the oil price is doing.  He believes what this does, is force people to think about alternatives - especially biodiesel.  Judging from the number of enquiries we are getting daily, this may well be true.

The bottom line is:  someone has to bite the bullet and do the work.  This is why I choose to be in this industry - to make a difference and (hopefully soon) make some money!