Kohler Explores Sustainability Advantages of HVO for Diesel Generators

The threat of climate change has resulted in urgent demand for more sustainable mission-critical power technologies across all industries, including backup power. The introduction of renewable fuels such as HVO, hydrotreated vegetable oil, are promising advancements, as they can drastically improve both sustainability and environmental performance of generators. 

Recently, Kohler Power examined the benefits of HVO in a white paper titled, Sustainability Advantages of HVO Fuel for Diesel Generators. The white paper, penned by Pierre-Adrien Bel, Product Manager with responsibility for the large diesel generator >700 kW for Kohler Power, provides an overview of the development, benefits, uses and impacts that HVO is having in the backup power industry. To understand how HVO can benefit both diesel generators and the environment, it is important to also understand the basics of the product, its uses and benefits.

What is HVO?
HVO, hydrotreated vegetable oil, is a fuel that is a sustainable energy source to replace fossil fuels. It is a synthetic paraffinic fuel meeting the EN15940 Class A standard for Europe and ASTM 975 for the United States and is produced from raw materials of renewable origin, such as cooking oils, waste animal fat, or tall oil. HVO is a straight-chain paraffinic hydrocarbon that is free of aromatics, oxygen, and sulfur and has high cetane numbers.

How is HVO beneficial to the environment?
HVO is a standardized and reliable renewable fuel with increased performances versus the first-generation FAME biodiesel. It reduces greenhouse gas emission such as CO2 by up to 90% through the product’s life cycle, which is produced from renewable raw materials that have absorbed CO2 during their growth. HVO is a rapid and efficient response to the environmental challenges of reducing emissions to ensure a sustainable future for future generations.

How does HVO compare to traditional types of fuel?
HVO can already be used in diesel generators as a clean energy solution. But does it compare to more traditional fuel options? Kohler Power conducted a test in their factory with a KOHLER KD62V12 engine with the same engine configuration with two types of fuels, fossil diesel and HVO.These tests demonstrate the positive effects on direct emissions from the use of HVO, in addition to reducing the greenhouse gas emissions balance of the fuel itself, making HVO a viable alternative to achieving the goal of net zero emissions in the future.

Why HVO now?
HVO is an economical way to reduce GHG without investing in expensive new technologies, such as batteries or fuel cells, and has a lower GHG impact with the current grid electricity mix. It is a rapid and efficient response to the environmental challenges of reducing emissions to ensure a sustainable future for future generations.

HVO fuel provides up to 90% renewable energy for your back-up generator. So it’s not just mission-critical. It’s planet-critical too.

Click here to download the entire white paper.