Renewable diesel’s ability to be a direct drop-in alternative for petroleum diesel is just the start of its advantages. Reduced maintenance, long storage life and its environmental benefits make renewable diesel an option for all applications where diesel power is required.
Renewable diesel’s clean-burning properties reduce particulate production by up to 50 percent, improving air quality and engine cleanliness, as well as extending the life of machines. Contractors can use the fuel to meet carbon emission targets for projects while potentially limiting the need to make other changes that might impact jobsite efficiency.
Additionally, renewable diesel has a higher tolerance to cold temperatures than petroleum diesel. The chemical composition of renewable diesel gives it a freeze point of minus 40 degrees, while petroleum diesel starts to freeze at around 14 degrees. At the same time, renewable diesel has a flash point of 140 degrees, reducing fire hazards.
Unlike first-generation biofuel options, renewable diesel does not contain oxygen. This means renewable diesel has a shelf life up to 10 years. In comparison, petroleum diesel can only be stored for six to 12 months.
Renewable diesel both improves sustainability and provides efficiency-enhancing benefits. Before making the switch, though, check to be sure the equipment OEM has approved the use of the fuel and verify that your fuel storage solution is compatible with renewable diesel.
Storing fuel
Using an on-site fuel storage solution can further reduce emissions because the storage tanks can be strategically moved and placed in areas that reduce the distance equipment needs to travel to refuel. It also minimizes the number of deliveries to the site, meaning fewer emissions from transport.
If a fleet that consumes 10,000 gallons of fuel per week switches to renewable diesel, it can reduce emissions by about 5,243 metric tons. If that same fleet adds on-site fuel storage along with renewable diesel, it can further reduce the carbon footprint by two additional metric tons per year. This is based on standard mile-per-gallon calculations for fuel delivery trucks and reducing weekly site fuel drops from five to one.
Using on-site storage tanks with a fuel management system also allows operations to track fuel use, which provides accountability for every drop of fuel. Some on-site fuel tank manufacturers offer personalized alerts for situations like above-average consumption rates, overfill incidents and more.
Finding a balance
With the ability to reduce carbon emissions by up to 85 percent, renewable diesel is viewed by many as the wave of the future.
California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard program, which aims to decrease carbon intensity and improve air quality, reflects an increase in renewable diesel use in the state, with 2021 marking the highest volume of renewable diesel since its introduction to California in 2012.
Although petroleum diesel is still dominant, environmental trends and the benefits that come with this new fuel solution indicate this is just the start for renewable diesel in North America. Operations can prepare by partnering with manufacturers that offer the flexibility to use either petroleum diesel or renewable diesel for their fleet.
By partnering with an on-site fuel storage solutions provider who is familiar with fuel trends and storage compatibility, operations take further control of their fuel supply. With flexible storage solutions, operations can be ready to use the best diesel option for their application while reducing emissions during transport and refueling, regardless of the type of fuel.
When the time comes, having on-site fuel tanks that are renewable diesel ready will make the switch as seamless as possible so operations can quickly reap the efficiency and sustainability benefits that renewable diesel provides.
Jeff Lowe is director of product and sales enablement at Western Global Americas.