HVO ALTERNATIVE FUEL: ACHIEVING UP TO 85% REDUCED EMISSIONS

Road transportation in the next few years faces unprecedented pressure to adopt sustainable growth, and at the same time take responsibility for protecting the planet and its natural resources.

In 2020, Girteka Logistics managed to reduce its CO2 emissions by 4%, compared to 2019.

Working directly with our clients, partners, and stakeholders, Girteka Logistics follows seven sustainability pillars in an effort to reduce our environmental impact.

One such sustainability pillar is our commitment to increase the use of alternative fossil free fuels to reduce CO2 emissions.

The use of alternative fuels considerably decreases harmful exhaust emissions (such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, particulate matter and sulfur dioxide) as well as ozone-producing emissions.

In addition to the environmental benefits, there is also a threat of fossil fuels being banned and conventional fuels running out as non-renewables are depleted.   

Working in close collaboration with our shippers, fuel suppliers and vehicle manufacturers, we are continuously searching for ways to integrate alternative fuel solutions into our transportation network.

Girteka Logistics has a particular focus on HVO, sourced from renewable materials that significantly reduces CO2 emissions.                   

There are other alternative fuels such as biodiesel, also known as FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Esters) produced from vegetable oils by an esterification process. Serving as another more sustainable alternative fuel option, FAME lacks some of the properties of HVO – it cannot be blended with diesel fuel in high concentrations without substantial risks for fuel quality at lower temperatures. Furthermore, trucks require more frequent maintenance if FAME is used.

Liquefied natural gas or LNG has lower CO2 savings than HVO, requires more investment in a separate fleet, and has a high dependability on route planning around LNG fuel networks. In addition, there is a high cost for LNG truck maintenance.

Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil or better known as HVO is currently one of the cleanest alternative fuels available. It can be used in all applications where fossil diesel is used today.

The name originated from a time when only vegetable oils were used as feedstocks in the production process. Today HVO is increasingly produced from waste and residue fat coming from the food industry, as well as from non-food grade vegetable oil.

HVO is made up of 100% renewable raw materials, a second-generation, synthetic, advanced renewable diesel alternative that eliminates up to 85% of net CO2 emissions, depending on the feedstock used in the HVO production. HVO significantly reduces nitrogen oxide (NOx), particulate matter (PM) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions in the atmosphere.

It is produced by the hydrotreatment of predominantly plant based vegetable oils (without palm oils), and the result is a premium quality fuel with a chemical structure almost identical to regular petroleum diesel.

The feedstock used in the HVO process can be of the same or much lower quality than that used to produce regular biodiesel, but the HVO final product is far superior.

The price for HVO can differ across Europe, so to address the price differential with other diesel and to encourage adoption, excise duty fuel relief has been used to successfully develop the market.

HVO has also been described as a stable, sustainable and a high-quality fuel that offers better combustion, filterability and cold temperature performance than fossil diesel.

HVO is a drop-in alternative to regular diesel, which means almost any engine, piece of equipment or vehicle that can run on white or red diesel, can also run on HVO.

Pure HVO and HVO100, can be used in diesel engines without modification and is approved for all heavy vehicles of the market leading engine manufacturers such as Scania, Volvo, Mercedes, MAN among others.

Girteka Logistics uses HVO100 to ensure we achieve maximum CO2 emission reductions.

HVO has also been approved by a large number of OEMs and engine manufacturers and is currently used in many industries including manufacturing, construction and agriculture.

Other alternative fuel options can entail expensive set up costs, such as charging points, unique storage facilities, specialised dispensers, costly engine maintenance and staff training. HVO does not need any extra requirements or set-up.

In addition, CO2 reduction certificates as “Proof of Sustainability” can be purchased from fuel suppliers for those EU companies that need to prove they are following a path to climate neutrality.

The hydrotreated production process removes impurities which means less fuel maintenance and a more stable fuel for safer handling and storage.

Using HVO fuel does not impact the vehicle’s performance and can be used immediately without modification to the engine. In addition, HVO has better combustion and filterability than other diesel products on the market. It provides the same torque and maximum power as with fossil diesel fuel in modern engines.

Unlike other alternative fuels, HVO does not affect a truck’s second-hand value. And because of HVO’s chemical composition it can go down to -20°C or even -50°C which in turn, makes HVO suitable for use during cold winters offering great year-round performance.

Currently there exists a range of greener, more sustainable transportation solutions, and selecting the most optimal one for each route can complicate supply chain management.

The qualities of HVO, which allow the fuel to be used interchangeably with diesel fuel, add flexibility to planning. HVO can be used in addition to other selected green transport solutions, acting as another steppingstone towards zero-emission transportation.

HVO can be used alongside intermodal solutions, for completing the road legs of a route – as such, the climate impact is further reduced, and the benefits of intermodal solutions – such as safety – are still achieved. Similarly, as truck manufacturers progress with engine efficiency, technology such as Volvo I-Save, which reduced fuel consumption by up to 10%, can ensure a more efficient use of HVO.

Girteka Logistics has been working alongside our clients for many years for a greener supply chain. Contact us directly to hear how we can help you achieve your sustainability goals, and to learn more about alternative fuels and HVO.