Our solutions
HVO and its applications
Due to its renewable nature and environmental benefits, HVO has gained popularity as a sustainable alternative to traditional fuel types
Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) is a type of renewable diesel fuel that is produced from various vegetable oils or animal fats. It undergoes a process called hydrotreating, which involves subjecting the feedstock (vegetable oils or animal fats) to high temperature and pressure in the presence of a catalyst and hydrogen gas. Considered a “drop-in” biofuel, it can be used as a direct substitute for conventional diesel fuel without requiring any modifications to existing diesel engines or infrastructure. It can be blended with petroleum diesel in various proportions or used as a standalone fuel.
HVO has an extended
10-year storage lifespan
This means that fuel lasts longer in the tank, there is less need for regular testing and your tank is safer and cleaner.
What are the benefits of HVO in domestic heating appliances?
It offers a wide range of benefits in the domestic heating setting. Below, we highlight what we believe are the six main benefits of this future-ready fuel. Just hover over each box to find out more.
Renewable
Resource
Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Improved
Air Quality
Compatibility and
Performance
Biodegradability and
Sustainability
Energy Security
and Diversification
HVO and its use in Critical Installations
Many organisations, such as data centres, hospitals and airports, are turning to it as a fuel to support their back-up power needs, as well as supporting their drive to becoming a zero-emissions organisation. You can find out more about our work in the Critical Installations space by following the link below.
HVO FAQs
As a relatively new fuel, we are regularly asked a number of questions about it and its uses. As such, we have prepared a few FAQs for you to look through. And, of course, if we don’t cover a question you have then please just get in touch and we will do our best to answer your questions.
When HVO is burned, CO2 is still emitted, but because the carbon from the biomass is already naturally in the ecosphere, no net-new carbon dioxide emissions are created, rendering its GHG emissions net neutral. HVO can also potentially reduce localised emissions by lowering the amount of diesel particulates and certain hydrocarbons in the air that can lead to various health issues within communities.
HVO is a drop-in fuel, which means it can be fully replaced for most diesel generator sets. Any #2 diesel tank can be filled with HVO as needed, and vice versa. During a situation in which backup generators may have to run for days on HVO, the data center could still revert to diesel in the event the HVO supply is exhausted and can’t be procured quickly enough.
HVO has a higher energy content whne compared to FAME or B100, both in MJ/kg and MJ/l. The heating value of HVO (34.4MJ/l) is substantially higher than that of ethanol (21.2MJ/l).
Severe winter and arctic grades of HVO are available due to the isomerization process. Furhermore, cold properties of HVO can be adjusted to meet the local requirements by adjusting the severity of the process or by additional catalytic processing. “Cold Filter Plugging Point” (CFPP) can go down to -20°C or even -50°C irrespective of the feedstock used. This makes HVO suitable for use during cold winters even in Nordic countries as well as for use as jet fuel.
Mineral diesel has a cetane number of 51 and FAME biodiesel has a cetane number between 50 and 65 – whereas HVO has a cetane number between 70 and 90 which provides better starting performance, clean combustion and less chance of waxing in extremely cold weather.
HVO fuel is completely biodegradable, non-toxic and odourless as it’s made from 100% renewable waste materials. As a tried and tested clear and bright diesel fuel, it’s perfectly clean and safe to use.
Currently the UK heating authority, OFTEC, running trials of HVO fuel as a viable alternative to kerosene heating oil with success. To do this, it is working with a range of partners, as part of its future fuels campaign.
The benefits of switching to HVO fuel from kerosene heating oil, beyond using a renewable fuel, is the significantly lower cost of converting a boiler to run on HVO, compared to the overhauling the entire heating system. Trero-fitting your boiler to run on HVO will cost a few hundred pounds, while switching to a new system will cost thousands!
Switching to a renewable heating oil is important due to the government’s efforts to decarbonise heat from off-the-grid homes and commercial buildings, to help achieve their net zero targets. Alternative ways, including different fuels and oils have been explored in order to reduce and eventually replace kerosene heating oil and gas oil usage in homes and businesses.
The good news about using HVO fuel is that you will not need to replace your current kerosene fuelled heating oil system in order to heat your home. Something that is a possibility in future with other options that are being explored.
HVO fuel can provide you with a workable solution without the expense for all housing types and incomes in order to help ensure you can avoid the financial burden which other low carbon options currently face. In fact, due to the similarities, many existing heating oil systems are able to use HVO as a drop-in alternative to existing heating oils.
HVO is a cost-effective solution for many
The high cost of upgrading the electrical network could impact up to 1 million homes that are unlikely to be suitable for heat pumps.
So why not talk to us about HVO and its domestic heating applications and critical installations
If you’d like to find out more about HVO and how you can benefit from introducing it, then please do get in touch. After all, its benefits make it an attractive and sustainable option for reducing environmental impact and mitigating climate change, while enhancing energy security and promoting economic development.