HVO fuel and biodiesel are both fossil-free alternatives to conventional diesel but are produced by two different methods and follow two different fuel standards:
Biodiesel RME is based on plants (typically rapeseed) and is a 1st generation biodiesel and meets the standard EN14214 for biodiesel.
HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) is based on advanced raw materials such as residues and waste.
HVO is a 2nd generation biodiesel and meets the standard EN15940 for paraffin fuels
In the UK, biodiesel FAME is the bio-liquid fuel oil most frequently used in diesel applications. Standard EN590 Diesel has a maximum FAME content of 7% – hence the ‘B7’ stated on forecourt pumps. The FAME content of regular EN590 diesel is set to double over the coming years.
What is biodiesel FAME?
FAME (fatty acid methyl ester) is produced from vegetable oils and animal fats that have undergone esterification – the process of changing a vegetable or other cooking oil into an ester, using methanol as the catalyst. FAME has varying degrees of unsaturation, making it prone to oxidation, absorbing atmospheric moisture, and microbial attack.
Biodiesel FAME features:
- Fuel instability
- FAME degrades over time through oxidation. Line and filter blockages These result from residual deposits.
- Poor cold weather performance
- FAME is prone to cold-flow waxing and precipitation.
- Short shelf life
- FAME is also prone to waxing, microbial attack, degradation, and contamination.
What is HVO?
HVO is produced using a complex refinery process that removes oxygen from vegetable oil molecules and splits them into three separate chains, thus creating hydrocarbons very similar to regular diesel. Every molecule has a petroleum structure, and there is no ester link.
This creates a very stable fuel with a long shelf life of up to 10 years. HVO provides superior performance in storage and application than either fossil diesel or FAME.
HVO is also renewable and sustainable and provides up to 90% reduction in GHG and CO2 Emissions. For this reason, HVO is often referred to as the ‘second generation diesel.
HVO Features:
- Environmentally friendly – made from sustainable and renewable materials
- Low viscosity levels – Excellent cold weather performance
- Drop-In fuels – Compatible with all off-road engines and used as a direct replacement for conventional diesel.
- Long storage life – Improved safety, shelf life and storage compared to regular diesel.
Oilfast UK is proud to offer a nationwide supply of HVO fuel. Do you have any questions or queries on HVO fuel or biodiesel Fame? Contact your HVO expert to discuss your fuelling options.