Diesel Fuel

How Is HVO Fuel Made?

Reducing greenhouse emissions is a worldwide concern, but many adjustments for sustainability are methodical and take years to implement and see results. One of the most effective ways businesses can make an immediate change is to adopt sustainable, low-carbon fuels, such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO).

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How to Produce HVO Diesel
How Can You Use HVO?
What Are the Differences Between HVO and Petroleum Diesel Fuel?
Switch to HVO and Meet Your Business’s Environmental Goals

How to Produce HVO Diesel

HVO is a synthetic paraffinic fuel that emits fewer carbon emissions than petroleum diesel fuel. HVO fuel is made from a wide variety of inedible animal fats and used vegetable oils, making it a renewable biodiesel fuel. Some of the most common raw materials used to produce HVO fuel are:

Soybean oil
Canola oil
Rapeseed oil
Brassica carinata oil
Camelina sativa oil
Photosynthetically grown algae oil
Corn oil
Biogenic waste oils
Biogenic waste fats and greases
Sugarcane ethanol

The most common method of making renewable diesel is adding hydrogen to organic fats and oils under high temperatures and pressure. These raw materials undergo a pretreatment phase and are hydroprocessed to remove impurities — such as oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur — before experiencing a final purification stage. The resulting product is a paraffin that can be used as fuel.

Diesel fuel and HVO fuel share the chemical formula CnH2n+2, and HVO meets ASTM D975 standard specifications for petroleum diesel.

Both diesel fuel and HVO have the chemical formula CnH2n+2 and meet the specifications for petroleum diesel.

How Can You Use HVO?

HVO fuel is a solution to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions without changing operational and transportation equipment. Any diesel engine can run on HVO, making it an excellent option for heavy-duty vehicles across industries, including military, locomotive, air transportation and more. In addition to powering vehicles instead of regular diesel, HVO is used for emergency power generators, farming and construction equipment.

HVO fuel is becoming more available nationwide. In 2023, the U.S.’s total HVO production was 12.6 million tons, and production is increasing.

What Are the Differences Between HVO and Petroleum Diesel Fuel?

The main difference between hydrotreated vegetable oil and petroleum diesel fuel is that HVO is made from renewable second-hand organic matter, mainly a bioproduct or waste from feedstock. This makes it more sustainable than diesel fuel made from crude oil. Compared to diesel fuel, HVO produces less carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions.

Using alternatives like HVO fuel allows you to take a step toward zero gas emissions and achieve your environmental goals. Like any other fuel, it has great advantages, but you should also know the potential drawbacks to decide what’s best for your business.

Advantages of HVO

HVO’s advantages make it a more sustainable and eco-friendly option for most medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Here are a few of the main benefits of HVO:

Compatibility with diesel engines: HVO meets conventional petroleum ASTM D975 specifications and can be blended with traditional diesel fuels. Therefore, fleet and facilities managers can gradually transition to HVO without making significant modifications to existing diesel engines.
Compatibility with existing infrastructure: HVO is compatible with diesel infrastructure, meaning it can be used in any diesel equipment. It can be used seamlessly with existing diesel distribution and storage infrastructure, including pipelines, storage tanks and refueling stations.
Better performance under cold weather conditions: Unlike other types of fuel, HVO can be used in cold temperatures. It has superior cold flow properties, reducing the risk of fuel gelling or clogging in cold weather. For businesses in regions that experience harsh weather, HVO is a reliable fuel alternative that can reduce the risk of operational issues once temperatures drop.
Excellent combustion quality: HVO fuel burns cleaner, is odorless and produces lower particulate matter. Along with helping reduce air pollution, HVO can improve engine performance — cleaner combustion can boost power output and responsiveness.
Reduced greenhouse gas emissions: HVO reduces carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions. Since it’s produced from renewable feedstocks, it can significantly lower carbon dioxide emissions over its life cycle and emit lower levels of nitrogen oxides during combustion.
Longer shelf life: Due to its chemical stability and lower susceptibility to oxidation, HVO has a longer shelf life and no expiration date. With proper fuel storage and a good fuel quality maintenance plan, they can trust the fuel will remain reliable over a longer period of time.
High stability: HVO’s stability means a lower risk of filter blockages and water contamination. There are fewer impurities and contaminants than traditional fuels, which helps support engine performance and longevity.
Less maintenance: Since HVO burns cleaner and produces fewer deposits and residues, your vehicle motor or equipment won’t experience as much buildup, contributing to less maintenance.

Considerations of HVO

HVO fuel is an eco-friendly alternative to fueling your business fleet power and production equipment. Still, it has a few considerations you need to know about before deciding to switch:

Limited raw material supply: While HVO can be produced from a variety of feedstocks, including waste oils and fats, the supply of second-hand raw materials is often insufficient to meet growing demand. This means producers increasingly need to use firsthand raw materials, such as crops specifically cultivated for fuel production.
Higher production costs: HVO production costs are typically high compared to first-generation biodiesel and traditional diesel. This is because of factors like the refining processes required to produce HVO and the sourcing of raw materials. Additionally, HVO is produced on a smaller scale than traditional fuels, which can increase costs for producers and consumers. That said, HVO can lead to cost savings thanks to its long shelf life, high stability and other key benefits.
GHG emissions savings consistency: Though HVO can significantly reduce GHG emissions, the actual GHG savings depend on the raw material used to produce the batch. Some feedstocks may offer better environmental benefits than others. Still, GHG emissions are generally lower with HVO than alternatives.

Switch to HVO and Meet Your Business’s Environmental Goals

By switching to an environmentally friendly and low-carbon fuel, like hydrotreated vegetable oil, you show your commitment to improving your business process, reducing your greenhouse emissions and complying with government regulations.

Foster Fuels can back up that commitment. We’re a licensed fuel provider across the U.S., ready to supply you with the fuel you need when you need it — 24/7, 365 days a year. We’re a trusted HVO supplier and can deliver right to your company. We’ve been a family-owned business for over 100 years, and we want to help you positively impact the environment.

Are you curious about making the switch to HVO or want to learn more about our other fuel offerings? Our experienced fuel consultants are ready to answer all your questions and help you make an informed decision.

HVO Frequently Asked Questions

What Is HVO?

HVO, or Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil, is a renewable diesel fuel made from various feedstocks, primarily inedible vegetable oils and animal fats. It is produced by adding hydrogen to these organic materials under high temperatures and pressure, resulting in a synthetic paraffinic fuel.

What’s the Difference Between HVO and Biodiesel?

The main differences between biodiesel and renewable diesel are in their processing, quality, and handling. Biodiesel is produced through esterification, while renewable diesel is created via hydrotreating, which uses hydrogen at high temperatures. Renewable diesel, particularly HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), undergoes a purification process that removes impurities, resulting in a high-quality fuel that is chemically identical to standard ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD).