HVO is produced from lipids such as vegetable oil, tallow, or leftover cooking oil. It is sometimes referred to as sustainable diesel or green diesel. These lipids produce low carbon fuel since they are composed of paraffinic hydrocarbons.
A plethora of novel forms of energy are being evaluated to determine if they can withstand the same pressures that fossil fuels have demonstrated they can, as the world moves closer to net zero, carbon neutral, and sustainable energy alternatives.
According to an International Energy Agency’s report, the HVO sector is expected to expand significantly by 2024, with over 34 billion gallons of HVO produced, up from over 1.4 billion gallons in 2018.
Describe HVO Fuel
HVO, or hydrotreated vegetable oil, is a sustainable diesel substitute that is created by heating and pressurizing vegetable or animal fats—such as sunflower, soybean, or palm oil—with hydrogen. HVO constitutes a paraffinic organic liquid fuel produced by hydrocracking or hydrogenation of waste materials high in triglycerides, such as animal fat and cooking oil.
Most of the research on HVO that is now accessible makes comparisons between this fuel and other biodiesels; however, these analyses don’t provide much information on how HVO stacks up against the much more popular #2 diesel. The research indicates that HVO is far more desirable to utilize than biodiesel since it has several advantageous attributes.
The material that is now accessible frequently overlooks the fact that HVO fuel is unable to completely resolve the contamination issues that arise from using and storing #2 diesel fuel. Making the switch to HVO would not just solve the issues associated with handling the corresponding fossil fuels.
Now, biodiesel—which accounts for about 80% of all biofuel usage in Europe—such as HVO are the most widely utilized kind on the continent.
HVO Fuel Advantages
HVO is acknowledged as a sustainable fuel that provides greenhouse gas reductions and is both non-toxic and non-carcinogenic. It has received official certification from the Global Sustainability and Carbon Certification.
HVO is viewed as a Petro diesels replacement and may be utilized with traditional diesel engines. HVO is not produced by the esterification process, which sets it apart from biodiesel. A decrease of up to 90% in CO2 emissions is possible while producing HVO fuel UK, contingent upon the feedstock utilized.
An up to 18% reduction in NOx emissions and a 4.3% reduction in fuel consumption are possible with improved fuel injection. HVO burns exceptionally cleanly because it has very few contaminants. FAME, meaning fatty acid methyl esters, are absent from it. Because of its naturally elevated cetane number, which makes it easier to ignite and thoroughly burns, it emits less smoke and particulate matter.
When HVO is burned, particulate matter emissions are significantly reduced since it has an increased cetane number than diesel and a lower density.
In contrast to other fuel alternatives, HVO doesn’t require the re-engineering of mechanical elements to be utilized in contemporary diesel machinery. In addition, HVO has a far longer shelf life than standard #2 diesel; in storage, it may last up to 10 years with the right care and upkeep.
HVO fuel does not wax in the same manner as #2 diesel as well as other biodiesel fuels, therefore it can endure temperatures as low as -32°C since it does not contain FAME.
HVO Fuel Problems
A major obstacle to the widespread use of HVO is its availability. The current supply of HVO is highly restricted, and should industries worldwide seek a conversion to this fuel, there isn’t enough land being cultivated expressly for HVO to fulfill global demands.
Since it is produced from agricultural waste rather than the actual crop, HVO is regarded as a second-generation biofuel. Crop waste simply wouldn’t be sufficient to supply global energy demands, which is the issue with HVO.
The chain of supply for food will undoubtedly suffer if additional acreage is utilized only to produce HVO.
The contamination as well as fuel integrity issue is the second major problem with HVO.
While HVO does not absorb water directly, it can nonetheless get contaminated by microorganisms and water, much like #2 diesel that has been kept.
Free water will still enter the fuel tank because of fuel storage tank condensation, but it won’t emulsify with the HVO fuel. Rather, the tank’s free water will eventually separate and create a layer of liquid that sits below the gasoline.
HVO Fuel Administration and Upkeep
The danger of microbial development associated with HVO fuel is comparable to that of fossil diesel fuel, as stated within the Renewable Diesel guide. You can look into Syntech Advanced Biofuel vs. HVO Fuel for a better understanding.
In order to prevent contamination, authorities advise “good maintenance, cleaning, and dewatering of cleaning containers and tanks on a regular basis” and states that “microbial growth may cause difficulties with long storage periods.”
Microbial growth will spread throughout the tank in a manner similar to that of fossil diesel fuel if free water is not drained from it.
