HVO for Cat Generators

Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) is a renewable liquid fuel that is 100% compatible with existing Cat generators already in use today. Renewable liquid fuels, such as HVO, are becoming a more popular choice among customers seeking to decarbonize their operations, reduce their impact on the environment and achieve their ESG goals.


 

What is HVO

What is HVO?

HVO is a biofuel produced from renewable resources such as vegetable oils, including soybean oil, canola oil, and palm oil, as well as used cooking oils and animal fats. While the resources may vary globally, finished fuel specifications are independent of the feedstock.


What are the Benefits of HVO?

  • HVO provides users with up to an 80% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions when compared to petroleum diesel.
  • Lower visible smoke emissions when using biofuels.
  • HVO fuel is a drop-in replacement for diesel.
  • HVO has a much longer shelf life (up to 10 years) than fossil diesel, greatly simplifying back-up generation use cases.
  • Running generators on HVO provides similar performance to diesel.
  • HVO is available now throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, Northern California, and Oregon.
  • HVO’s availability is growing rapidly
  • HVO’s price is about the same as fossil diesel

 

Can Cat Generators Run on HVO?

Cat compression ignition gensets (diesel generators) can run on HVO and have accommodated the use of HVO for over a decade. HVO is available now. Learn more from the whitepaper links below or by contacting Peterson Power Systems.

 

Considerations

Considerations

Application

HVO can be used for prime and standby power applications. HVO has a significantly longer shelf life than fossil diesel making it exceptionally well suited for back-up and emergency generator applications.

Performance

Generator engines fueled by renewable liquid fuels have similar performance to those fueled with conventional diesel but may experience a small decrease in maximum power output. Fuel consumption may also slightly increase due to the potentially lower energy content of the specific renewable fuel being used.

Availability

Some regions or municipalities, particularly where mandates for renewable fuel use exist, may have abundant availability of HVO. HVO is readily available throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, Northern California, and Oregon. Other areas may not have ready access to HVO, which can mean fuels need to be transported to the location if needed.

Only purchase HVO fuels from reputable dealers selling commercial grade fuels that meet the relevant specifications.

Affordability

The price of renewable fuels varies depending on geographic area, base material (corn, soybeans, etc.), supplier, and government tax and other incentives. In CA, HVO is similarly priced to fossil diesel. Although renewable liquid fuels can cost more than petroleum diesel in certain areas, diesel generator set owners can transition to these fuels without purchasing new engines. In the case of fleets, managers can transition to renewable liquid fuels without acquiring new spare parts inventories.

Maintenance

Detailed guidance on the use of renewable liquid fuels exists, and users should be aware of the differences in the maintenance requirements associated with them compared to diesel fuels and each other.

Contamination control measures are critical for the application of any fuel, diesel or renewable. Fuels must be protected from water and dirt.

 

Specifications & Standards

HVO fuels must be per EU 15940 specification. HVO fuels also satisfy the diesel fuels specifications ASTM D975 and EN 590, except for density.

 

In the News

In the News:

Caterpillar has commissioned a new 13.5 MVA standby power solution for LCL Data Centers near Brussels, Belgium.
View Article >

Microsoft’s newest data centers in Sweden depend on Cat standby generators that can operate on renewable liquid fuel, supporting their sustainability goals and uptime commitments.
View Article >

Neste finalizes transaction to establish a joint venture for production of renewable fuels with Marathon Petroleum in the United States.
View Article >

Phillips 66 Makes Final Investment Decision to Convert San Francisco Refinery to a Renewable Fuels Facility.
View Article >

 

White Papers:

4000 kVA, 50 Hz Generator Set: Diesel & HVO Test
View White Paper >

Renewable and Alternative Fuels for Use in Diesel Engines
View White Paper >

3,000 ekW, 60 Hz Generator Set: Diesel & HVO Test
View White Paper >