Businesses across industries, from property management and utility companies to hospitals and data centers, use fuel daily. Making sustainable choices is becoming more important for companies as customers demand eco-friendly practices. Switching to sustainable fuel options comes with many other benefits, including cost savings and waste recovery. Explore the available alternative fueling solutions to make the best decision for your business.
Sustainable fuels are produced from renewable resources or waste materials rather than nonrenewable sources, such as fossil fuels. These fuels often have a reduced environmental impact compared to traditional fuels and generally aim to reduce emissions and reliance on finite and foreign resources. Sustainable fuel production can also increase energy security and domestic economic development.
Different sustainable alternative fuels offer different benefits, but as a whole, these options have environmental, economic and social benefits:
Learn more about your alternative fuel options with these sustainable fuel examples:
Biodiesel is made from oil and fat, often recycled cooking oil or waste products. It can be used alone but is usually mixed with standard diesel.
This alternative fuel offers reduced GHG emissions and can help support local businesses. Biodiesel may be compatible with standard diesel engines, depending on the percentage of biodiesel in the fuel. Most diesel engines can handle up to 5% biodiesel, but using 100% biodiesel generally requires engine modifications.
It has poorer performance in cold weather than traditional diesel and may have higher nitrous oxide emissions. Depending on the sources, the quality may not always be reliable. Ensure any biodiesel you use meets relevant standards to ensure proper performance and avoid damaging your equipment.
Also known as renewable or green diesel, HVO is a specific type of biofuel. It’s made from fat, used oil and feedstocks. HVO is a one-to-one substitute for ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD), meaning no modifications are necessary for engines that are already compatible with ULSD.
Though similar to diesel, HVO has a higher energy density and better cold-weather performance. Over the fuel’s life cycle, it can reduce GHG emissions by 90% compared to traditional fuels due to renewable sources and more efficient production processes. It burns more cleanly but still produces tailpipe emissions similar to those of standard diesel.
Switching to HVO can come with a higher initial cost, but as market demand continues to grow in the years ahead, prices are expected to become more comparable to standard diesel.
Another type of biofuel, ethanol is most often used as a gasoline additive. It’s made from renewable sources such as plants high in cellulose and sugar.
This fuel has a lower energy density than traditional fuels and could impact food prices. For example, when plants such as barley, corn, sorghum, sugarcane and sugar beets are used to make ethanol, they aren’t in the food chain. If more corn is sold for ethanol, it can reduce the supply of corn for consumption, increasing prices.
Ethanol has reduced GHG emissions and is biodegradable. Much of it is produced domestically, reducing our reliance on foreign resources. Any gas engine can use fuel with up to 10% ethanol, though higher ratios are only for flex-fuel vehicles. Fuel with a higher percentage of ethanol can also be more difficult to access.
While regular propane is petroleum-based, renewable propane is made from nonpetroleum sources such as fat, vegetable oil and grease. It’s chemically identical to standard propane after it’s been processed, meaning it can be used as a drop-in replacement.
Renewable propane has lower lifetime emissions and the same versatile applications as regular propane. Propane infrastructure is readily available, and renewable propane is often less expensive compared to gas and diesel. Most propane used in the U.S. is produced domestically.
However, using propane may require special equipment or modifications, depending on how you want to use it. Existing propane equipment can use renewable propane, but combustion engines must be converted. Although the lifetime emissions are lower due to the renewable sources, renewable propane still has the same emissions when burned, although these are still much lower than other traditional fuels.
Traditional natural gas and compressed natural gas (CNG) are both sourced from fossil fuels and have higher GHG emissions than gas or diesel. RNG is sourced from biogas created from organic waste.
As with other biofuels, this renewable source reduces lifetime emissions. Depending on the specific source and process, RNG can even be carbon-negative.
Switching to RNG can be a high upfront investment. RNG requires special vehicles and infrastructure or equipment conversion. Its limited availability and infrastructure means companies primarily using natural gas often install an on-site fueling station.
EVs started as passenger vehicles, but there’s a growing market for electric vans for commercial use.
Fully electric vehicles have zero tailpipe emissions, reduced noise pollution and lower operating costs. EV infrastructure is becoming more common, and many workplaces switching to EVs add on-site charging for their fleet and their employees.
However, they generally have higher upfront costs since you need to replace vehicles rather than convert them. They also have a lower range than their combustible engine counterparts. EVs can have a large lifetime carbon footprint due to battery manufacturing and electricity generation.
If you’re ready to transition your company to more sustainable fuels, Foster Fuels can help. We’re committed to excellent customer service and high fuel quality, including biodiesel, ethanol and HVO. We have industry-leading experience and an extensive network, so we can deliver fuel to 48 states and Canada. We offer competitive pricing, auto-fill options and 24/7 emergency service.
Our comprehensive services and fuel types can help keep your business running smoothly. Reach out today to learn more about how we can help your company use more sustainable fuel.