Welcome to
HVO Renewable Diesel
What is HVO renewable diesel and how is it made?
Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) is produced through a two-staged hydro processing process. It is a paraffinic liquid fuel that can be created from several different kinds of vegetable oils, including rapeseed, sunflower and soybean.
First, the vegetable oils/animal fats are hydrotreated. This involves adding hydrogen to convert unsaturated compounds into saturated alkanes (paraffins). The second stage involves alkane isomerisation and cracking, which brings the fuel to a quality that equals or surpasses specifications for conventional petroleum fuels.
HVO is a drop-in alternative to fossil diesel, meeting EN 15940 standards and Fuel Quality Directive 2009/30/EC Annex II.
Go greener with HVO renewable diesel
The UK Government aims to reduce vehicle greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 under its Road to Zero strategy. At present, the UK is attempting to implement large-scale transport decarbonisation. The current plan is to ban all cars and vans that are wholly fuelled by petrol or diesel by 2030 and ban the production of new diesel and petrol lorries by 2040.
Some plans to revolutionise haulage have already received backing, including a scheme to have lorries powered by motorway cables, but sustainable, long-term solutions have not yet been found.
HVO is a greener renewable fuel with a chemical structure almost identical to regular diesel. It has been certified as a sustainable fuel by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) offering net greenhouse gas CO2reductions of up to 90%. It is also a non-toxic and non-carcinogenic.
Use in Diesel Engines
One of the benefits of using HVO renewable diesel is that there is no upfront cost to switch between mineral diesel and HVO.
HVO can often be used without modification in diesel engines and machinery and is approved for heavy-duty road and off-road vehicles such as Scania, Volvo, Mercedes Benz, MAN, DAF, Renault, John Deere, Caterpillar, Steyr and Iveco.
Please check that your particular vehicle make and model can use HVO by checking the vehicle/machine handbook or contact the manufacturer.
If you are interested in using HVO renewable diesel in your vehicle or have any questions about the future of renewable energy at Rix, please get in touch with us.
The benefits of HVO
HVO Diesel is the premium fossil-free alternative to red diesel/ gas oil which is made up of 100% renewable raw materials.
- FOSSIL FREE – a renewable and sustainable fuel
- Up to 90% lower greenhouse gas emissions
- Can be mixed with regular diesel
- Superior cold weather
performance, down to -32 degrees - Excellent storage features – does not lose quality
- Odourless
- Carbon offset delivery mileage
- High flashpoint - improved safety, storage and handling
Register your interest in finding out about HVO Renewable Diesel
HVO Renewable Diesel FAQ's
HVO is not a type of biodiesel. It’s not the same as existing biofuels; it’s made using hydrogen in a synthesised process and doesn’t contribute to deforestation.
You can use HVO in any diesel engine without making any modifications or installing any new infrastructure. Many mainstream manufacturers of domestic vehicles, as well as heavy-duty and off-road vehicles, have already approved HVO for use in their tanks.
You should always check with the manufacturer before using HVO in your vehicle or machinery.
Using HVO, emissions of carbon dioxide can be reduced by up to 90%.
As HVO renewable diesel has the same chemical composition as conventional diesel, it can be stored in the same bulk tank and used in the same way.
In terms of functionality, there is no difference between HVO renewable diesel and conventional diesel – they comprise the same chemical structure, so switching to HVO won’t affect your fuel economy. The only differences in HVO are that it is made of renewable, sustainable materials, has a much lower carbon footprint and is completely odourless.
With proper storage conditions and tank maintenance, HVO fuel can be stored for up to ten years.
Yes, you can – although the recommendation is to start with a clean tank of HVO to ensure that the fuel’s long life and high quality aren’t affected, it is completely safe for your engine to mix HVO and conventional diesel.
HVO is manufactured from certified waste fats and vegetable oils.
The cetane number of HVO renewable diesel is between 70 and 90. By comparison, mineral diesel has a cetane number of 51, and existing biofuels have a cetane number between 50 and 65.
This means that HVO has better starting performance, cleaner combustion and is less likely to wax if the weather is cold.
HVO fuel is a sustainable ‘green’ alternative to diesel and can be used in agriculture and commercial applications, such as construction, rail, events and public transport.
Commercial boilers, Tractors and farm machinery, Boats within inland waterways, construction machinery and much more.
Because it’s made of entirely renewable waste materials, HVO renewable diesel is non-toxic and odourless.
HVO is very versatile and has a range of uses, from passenger cars to heavy-duty or off-road vehicles, as well as commercial boilers, tractors and construction, among many others.