HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil)

The acronym HVO stands for “Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil”, in German this is “Hydriertes Pflanzenöl”.

HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) is also known as HDRD (hydrogenation derived renewable diesel), because animal fats and other raw materials are meanwhile being used alongside vegetable oil in manufacture.

HVO diesel is almost odourless and clear like water.

No. Renewable diesel and biodiesel are two different fuels. The processing of the raw materials is different. The vegetable oil is purified for HVO and treated at a high temperature with hydrogen.

The fuel is manufactured using vegetable raw materials, residues and waste products. Within the framework of the directive on biofuels, the European legislator established very strict criteria in relation to sustainability and the environmental aspects (CO2 balance, protection of forests, proper land use) in particular. Several certification systems have been developed to fulfil these criteria.

HVO is manufactured using a catalytic reaction between vegetable oils or animal fats and hydrogen (hydrogenation). The hydrogenation results in a separation of the fats and oils, during which all oxygen atoms and unsaturated bonds are removed. Longchain paraffins result from the fatty acids, the glycerine share is converted into propane gas and the oxygen is bonded as water.

Paraffinic diesel fuels can be manufactured both synthetically, for example using natural gas (GtL: Gas-to-Liquid) or power (PtL: Power-to-Liquid) and from biogenic sources, for example from hydrogenated vegetable oils (HVO – Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils). Paraffinic is therefore a chemical term used to describe the saturated hydrocarbons (chemically these only contain carbonhydrocarbon-single bonds, contrary to the so-called unsaturated hydrocarbons).

Due to the chemical composition, the properties of paraffinic fuels differ from those of regular diesel fuels. In their pure form they do not fulfil the requirement of the standard for diesel fuels (DIN EN 590), which is significant in Germany; however they are regulated in a separate standard (DIN EN 15940). It is however possible (depending on the HVO’s density) to mix in up to 26 % into regular diesel fuel without violating the standard.

Synthetic diesel fulfils the provisions of the standard EN 15940 for paraffinic diesel fuels. HVO fulfils all the requirements of EN 590 for diesel fuels right through to the required minimal density. For that reason HVO cannot be certified in accordance with EN 590 and therefore cannot be currently sold at a fuel station in Germany. HVO is already available at fuel stations in other countries.

HVO is considered to be a sustainable fuel when compared with the usual fossil diesel. It is manufactured using renewable sources, like vegetable oils, animal fats and used cooking oil. These raw materials can be planted anew or recycled, which leads to a continuous supply. When burning HVO, generally less greenhouse gases are emitted than with fossil diesel. HVO can contribute to improved air quality as less dangerous emissions, like soot particles and nitrogen oxides, are generated. HVO is biologically degradable, which means that contrary to some synthetic fuels, it decomposes in the environment without leaving behind damaging residues.

HVO manufacturer Nests uses power from renewable energy sources. During the manufacturing process of hydrogenation, no regeneratively manufactured hydrogen has been used to date. Transportation cannot be presented as 100 % climate neutral.

• Above all, HVO can contribute to making the fleet more climate neutral. In comparison to standard diesel fuel, a CO2 reduction of around 90 % can be put into effect with HVO100 (=100 % pure HVO).
• HVO is oxygen-free and therefore exhibits better storage stability and slower engine oil ageing than biodiesel or diesel. HVO is resistant to a bacterial infestation (diesel bug). As a result, the fuel is ideal for use in agricultural machinery with long periods of downtime.
• This synthetic fuel is clearly better for the longevity of the engine and therefore for the environment.
• Allegedly, due to the high cetane number and therefore the quick ignition, the HC and CO emissions in the lower load range and in cold engine conditions are particularly lower than with biodiesel and fossil diesel fuel.
• Another benefit to the high cetane number is ignition that is low in terms of noise.
• The aromatic substance freedom contributes to a low impact of soot emissions and therefore also to a reduction in the fuel consumption as a result of a reduction in the frequency of regeneration. This only occurs in machines over 19 kW. The results of the soot oxidation analysis exhibit higher reactivity of the soot to the HVO fuel. When compared with fossil diesel powered engines, the passive regeneration temperatures of HVO soot are approx. 40° Celsius lower.
• The use of HVO leads to a reduction in NOx emissions.

In Germany, the price of HVO is approx. 10 to 20 cent above the normal diesel price. This difference will be far less in the future with increasing demand and the development of HVO production. In other countries, like Sweden and Slovenia, bio-fuel is cheaper. Agricultural and forestry operations are within their right to propose agricultural diesel payments. The use of biodiesel in pure form and from vegetable oil within the agricultural and forestry sector is tax-free according to the energy tax act. The full tax rate is refunded.

The travel range or application time of a vehicle powered by HVO100 is identical to a vehicle powered by diesel.

Yes. HVO exhibits a similar chemical composition to fossil diesel. This means that the fuel is a drop-in replacement for fossil diesel. The fuel can be mixed with fossil diesel in a desired ratio - or used in pure form (HVO100). As the rubber seals expand differently when using fossil diesel and HVO, a regular switch between the two fuels should be avoided.

EN 15940 permits a content of max. 7 % FAME, but the quality of FAME is of less importance; poor quality can itself cause problems at low concentrations. The risk of contaminant deposits from FAME increases with a higher mix content. Biodiesel is fundamentally not permitted for Weidemann machines above B7 (7 % content).

Yes, driving with HVO100 is safe. HVO is, in relation to safety, comparable to diesel.

Due to isomerisation, the cold properties can also be adapted to the requirement of winter. In doing so, the structure of the hydrocarbons is correspondingly changed. A CFPP (cold filter plugging point) of -40° Celsius can be reached.

The engine is maintained according to the same maintenance plan as with diesel fuel.

All current Hoftracs, wheel loaders and telehandlers are HVO-compatible (from 2024).

All Stage V Weidemann machines can be operated using HVO. Customers should contact Weidemann Customer Services to confirm the compatibility of their machine model and the procedure before fuelling a Weidemann machine with HVO.

The hydrophobic properties could lead to a higher volume of water, which is separated in the water separator. Nevertheless, if HVO is stored clean, the fuel itself is water-free.

We have tested the material compatibility, engine output and the maintenance schedule. We have thoroughly tested the fuel in our endurance test machines under different weather conditions. We have had a positive experience.

Despite the clear increase in production, HVO is only available in a few European countries nationwide. While many countries, like Netherlands, Sweden and even Italy, are increasingly focussing on alternative fuels, HVO has still not caught on in Germany. The fuel should be approved in Germany by the end of 2023; however, the process could still be delayed.

It is questionable whether sufficient waste products are available for the demand of HVO. Vegetable and animal waste products are all being recycled. In order to complement the missing raw materials, Neste, the globally leading manufacturer of renewable diesel, is researching new ways to use liquid plastic waste as the future raw material for refineries of crude oil products. The company would like to process more than one million tonnes of plastic waste as raw material annually by 2030. The EU has taken steps to reduce emissions of air traffic and shipping via the emissions trading system (ETS). As neither aeroplanes nor ships can be electrified, the fuels used in aeroplanes and ships within the EU should be more environmentally-friendly. In the short-term, the HVO100 fuel is favoured to achieve this goal. For this reason, its availability for land vehicles remains limited.

Adequately large volumes of HVO are available on the market to make a relevant contribution on and off the road: in 2021, over 7 million tonnes HVO were produced globally. By 2025, the global HVO production is expected to exceed 30 million tonnes. In the medium and long-term, scalable and sustainable raw material sources will provide volume potential.

HVO is clearly beyond the demonstration phase and is already an established fuel on the market. The provision of HVO100 in Europe is increasing continuously.

• Approx. 2,000 stations in Europe with 100 % HVO.
• Approx. 1,600 fuel stations in North America (80-95 % HVO).
• Approx. 10,900 fuel stations in total plotted in Europe, including mixtures.

In the coming years, production of regenerative diesel is set to increase from the current approx. 4 million tonnes per year to 15.5 million tonnes by 2030.

However, HVO has been on the market since 2012 as an add-in component for diesel fuel. It is permitted to add it to a mix with conventional diesel, accounting for up to 26 % of the mixture. In a resolution proposal, dated 03 March 2023, the German Bundestag requested the federal government amends the German regulation for fuels to the extent that the use and sale of paraffinic fuel in pure form is enabled for all users. For this, the 10th Federal Emission Control Ordinance should be promptly amended so that fuels that comply with DIN EN 15940 are also approved. However, HVO diesel can today already be purchased in canisters, barrels and mobile tank systems.

• Neste (FIN, NL)
• Preem (S)
• ENI
• Total (F)
• Orange Gas (NL)
• Greenpont (NL)
• Goodfuels (NL)
• Phillips 66 (USA)
• etc.

• Zieglmeier (D)
• Neste (FIN, Baltic States)
• Preem (S)
• Tanka (S)
• Greenpont (NL)
• Texaco (NL)
• 76 Phillips 66 (USA)
• Orange Gas (NL)
• Cirkle K (DK, S, N)
• XY Truck (N, DK)
• Colabitoil (S)
• Shell (NL)
• etc.

• NesteMy / Neste Renewable Diesel (NRD)
• C.A.R.E Diesel
• KlimaDiesel90
• Fuelmotion H
• Renewable Diesel (USA)
• HVO100
• HVOlution (Italy)
• Shell Renewable Diesel (NL)
• XtL Diesel