What is HVO

Learn how renewable diesel can help you meet your organisation’s sustainability objectives.

Frequently Asked Questions

HVO is a term used to describe renewable diesel fuels which are created through hydrogenation and hydrocracking of different feedstocks such as rapeseed oil, tall oil, animal fats, and waste cooking oil. HVOs may also be described as Hydro-processed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA). In general, the fuel produced has similar chemical properties to fossil diesel.

Because of the purity of the production process, renewable diesel is better for the environment than other fuel options. This purer form of fuel performs better and offers a much lower CO2 footprint and exhaust emissions than petroleum diesel or other fuels, for that matter.

Using a specialised hydrotreatment technique, HVO can be made in a refinery from any vegetable oil or animal fat. In the UK, HVO is predominantly made from waste products such as:

Used cooking oil;
Residual fat fractions from food, fish, and slaughterhouse industries;
Tall oil byproducts; and
Non-food grade crop-based vegetable oil fractions.

The waste-derived HVO Prema supplies is predominantly made from used cooking oil and so is highly sustainable and offers the lowest greenhouse gas emissions.

No, HVO diesel is not toxic. The fuel is also totally odourless and is biodegradable because it is made from 100 per cent renewable waste materials. It has been scientifically tried and tested as an alternative to fossil fuels, so you can rest assured that it is very safe and clean to use.

HVO biofuels are being produced either by converting current oil refineries into HVO technology/co-production facilities or through investment in stand-alone facilities. This type of fuel used to be made exclusively of hydrotreated vegetable oils, hence the name, but today, a much wider range of different feedstocks can be used. HVO Fuel UK’s waste-derived HVO offers lower emissions and better sustainability.

The main difference between hydrotreated vegetable oil fuel and regular biodiesel is the production process. HVO uses hydrogen as a catalyst, while biodiesel uses methanol instead in the esterification process. As a result, HVO does not suffer from the main issues in the production of biodiesel, such as oxidation and degradation.

HVO is made from vegetable oils, grease waste, and residues from the agriculture and food industry. It can also be produced from tall oil by-products. HVO is a completely renewable diesel alternative and can help you reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90 per cent compared to conventional diesel.

Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) is a paraffinic bio-based liquid fuel, which can be made from different kinds of oils and animal fats. It can be used to power conventional diesel engines, pure or blended with fossil diesel (Petro diesel) at any percentage, with no alteration to equipment or parts necessary.

As an example of how HVO renewable diesel is replacing traditional fuels, Cummins Transport Ltd has recently agreed that HVO is a compatible oil for its coach and bus fleets. The fuel can be used as an alternative for standard EN 590 ultra-low sulphur diesel without needing any change to the Cummins fleets’ engines.

There’s also no need for any additional engine maintenance with this fuel, and the same filters can be retained. The fuel can be mixed with standard diesel at different percentages, including to create winter grade fuels. Because it has the same stability and cold-resistant properties as conventional diesel, HVO fuel can be stored and used in the same way as its counterpart.

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