The quest for fuel sources that can replace the world’s dependence on fossil fuels has been underway for years. Over the last 10 years, the desire for suitable alternatives has ramped up as governments worldwide are pressured to make lasting and effective change that will protect the current and future citizens of this planet. Luckily, great strides have been made in the journey to high-quality, sustainable energy.
What is Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil and How Are HVO’s Made?
Phil from Gastec Training, a leading provider in utility training, said, “Hydrogenated vegetable oils are paraffinic bio-based liquids, which are derived from plant oils and animal fat.” Mostly, HVOs are derived from waste products of the food and agriculture industries (oils and animal fats) and grease residues. They are highly processed, and it is through those processes (hydrogenation) that they derive properties that make them very similar to traditional diesel.
Is Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO) a Replacement for Regular Diesel Fuel?
HVOs and regular diesel have qualities and attributes that make them extremely similar, behaving similarly both in the combustion process as well as its inert, liquid form. They are so similar that you can put HVO’s directly into a diesel engine, at any percentage (mixed with regular diesel or without) and use it, without any adjustments or changes to the existing equipment.
How are HVO’s Different from Bio Diesel?
HVOs are a renewable diesel fuel but it differs from traditional first-generation biofuels in how it is processed. Biodiesel is treated with methanol, where HVO’s are processed with hydrogen to transform it into a bio-based liquid fuel.
What are the Benefits of HVO’s?
Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Fossil fuels are heavy with carbon and dump carbon dioxide into the air after burning. HVOs, as a renewable diesel alternative, can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90% in emissions compared to their traditional counterparts.
Better Air Quality
Due to the meticulous hydrogenation process, the product is much cleaner than traditional diesel, resulting in a cleaner burning fuel. This means better air quality and fewer particulates being ejected into the atmosphere. Additionally, this means that equipment breaks down slower, increasing its operational lifespan.
Energy Security in a Volatile Energy Market
Fossil fuels have been known to be tied to energy-fuelled conflicts worldwide. HVO’s, being a liquid fuel derived from completely renewable sources, provides countries that embrace its use a level of energy security in a volatile energy market.
Renewable Fuel Source
Non-renewable forms of energy, such as fossil fuels, have long been known to be problematic because of their non-renewability. The search for a fuel source that is similar in energy output but derived from renewable sources has been the holy grail of researchers for years.
Direct Drop-In Replacement Fuel
With no need to replace or modify existing equipment, organizations and individuals can adopt the use of HVOs without any major upfront investment in new equipment. This makes the adoption process more attractive and feasible for much of the population.
Longer Shelf Life
Because of the purity of the end-product, HVO’s have a longer shelf life than regular diesel, making it an attractive option for heating fuel.
HVO’s and Renewable Heating Fuels are the Path to Sustainability
The world needs renewable heating fuels and sources of sustainable energy. HVOs provide a suitable replacement for traditional diesel engines, giving those who would like to transition to a more sustainable source of fuel the right product to do so.
