Pros and Cons of HVO Fuel: Is it Right for You?

People of the modern world and the areas of the UK are searching for more heating solutions that will be dependable and sustainable. In this way, the hydro-treated vegetable oil or HVO is becoming more significant among them. This is a category of fuel that is prepared by oil of vegetable and animal fats. This is a type or category of bio-fuel and it releases less amounts of CO2 emissions.

You can have many of the HVO fuel benefits like if you use it in the engine of your machine it will work more efficiently. This fuel can be even stored in any category of container. Nevertheless, where this fuel has been stored should have the proper level of upkeep. The use of the HVO fuel also has some disadvantages. They are linked to the price and compatibility and other concerns.

Let’s find out the pros and cons of using the fuel like HVO and whether it is a good choice for you or not through this article.

Pros Of HVO Fuel

When you use HVO fuel you get many of the benefits. These all benefits are both for residential and commercial needs. They are also linked with environment and sustainability.

Benefits For Operations

In the operations of machines to be used in homes and businesses, you can get HVO fuel benefits in the reduction of discharges of harmful gases and an increase in the performance of the engine. Let’s find out what the other benefits are.

Improvement in the performance of the boiler: If you will use HVO fuel in the boiler or furnace of your office or home it will have a more progressive performance. Due to the clean-burning properties of this fuel, the boiler gets more lifelines to be stable in heating.

Enhancement in the lubricity: The substances of hydro-treated vegetable oil work to enhance the lubricity of the machine. This works for the reduction of wear and tear. This works basically for the fuel injector and the fuel pumps.

Performance in cold weather: The fuel like HVO has a high volume of performance in the colder months. It has a low level of cloud point and a low level of CFPP or cold filter plugging point. The fuel works with a high range of resistance from creating blockages in the filters and gelling of the fuel. This fuel does not have any need for seasonal fuel grade. It makes fuel storage easy and comfortable in the winters.

Long shelf life: You can get HVO fuel benefits from its long shelf life. The fuel can be stable for nearly the time-frame of 10 years. It has a low level of chances of contamination and/or degradation. This is a synthetic fuel and has the substance of hydrocarbons in 100%. The fuel also lowers the level of chances of bacterial growth.

Low level of cost of maintenance: The tank where the HVO fuel  has been stored goes through the process of checking about the levels of  contamination and/or fuel integrity. Thus there are less chances of moisture and sludge build-up.

Few levels of nitrogen oxide than that of the standard diesel: The lower release of nitrogen oxide or NOx than that of the conventional kind of petrol or gasoline is another of the HVO fuel benefits. The release of NOx is very harmful to nature and it becomes the reason for acid rains and the creation of smog.

Cost-effective: Not similar to the electric vehicles the fuel like HVO can be applied in the current systems and engines of gasoline. There will not be any requirement of retrofitting and other initiatives of servicing. This makes the fuel cost-effective.

Compatibility: This fuel has followed the rules and standards of EN15940 and it is compatible with any kind of machine of storage like the different types of tanks, pipelines and refueling stations.

Regulatory Compliance: This fuel has fulfilled the rules of all national and international standards. It has followed the specifications of EN 590 and other rules of using renewable fuel, different carbon credit schemes and targets of being carbon neutral.

Drop-in Alternative: The fuel like HVO is also called “drop in fuel” as it can be utilised in the accessible engine of diesel without avoiding any kinds  of warranties. Here the infrastructure or the system does not need to be added with any extra components. This fuel is also known as a second-generation of bio-fuel.

An odourless fuel: The fuel HVO is also an odourless fuel. This is prepared from various waste products. The process used here is called hydrogenation and hydro-cracking. This makes the fuel more clean and odourless.

Higher content of Cetane: This fuel has high levels of Cetane content. The number of Cetane is checked through the quality of a fuel’s ignition and burning. The high levels of Cetane say that the fuel burns more effectively.

Low level of sulphur: The HVO fuel has been designed and prepared to have low levels of sulphur into it. It works for protecting the surrounding from any kind of damages and reducing the pollution of air.

Environment And Sustainability

You can get many of the HVO fuel benefits related to environment and sustainability. This fuel is also known as green diesel. This has become more reliable as the alternative to fossil fuel.

Low releases of GHG emissions: This fuel is produced by the chemical process and treatment of discarded materials and supplied by best practices of transportation and distribution. It also has a low level of particles of carbon. This makes it release low levels of GHG emissions.

Clean in combustion: HVO has clean burning properties into it. It works for reduction of the emissions like carbon monoxide or CO, particulate matter or PM, and particles of NOx or nitrogen oxide. It burns in a process that removes all of the impurities.

Biodegradable: This fuel has the content and particles that are completely bio-degradable and the feedstock here goes through a pre-treatment process. This makes the fuel safer to be used.

Renewable sources of energy: The HVO fuel is a kind of sustainable and renewable source of power. It is similar to renewable fuels like Bioethanol,the forms of Biobutanol and RNG or Renewable Natural Gas.

Free from FAME content: This fuel is free from any kind of particles of FAME or Fatty Acid Methyl Esters. The FAME can create the issues that can be related to its stability and growth of microbes.

Cons Of HVO Fuel

Nevertheless, fuel like HVO also has some disadvantages that are mainly connected to its price and compatibility.

Lack of proper level of supply: In the UK in a few areas people are having a lack of HVO fuel supply. This is due to a limited level of facilities and services of production and the high level of demand.

Considerations for cost: People also face the disruptions of high levels of cost of this fuel. The fuel comes in 10% to 15% more pricing structure than that of normal petrol and diesel.

Other issues of compatibility: While describing the HVO fuel benefits its compatibility should also be discussed. This fuel is less compatible with the very old fuel furnaces. The government of the UK is giving incentives to the people to use the new forms of boilers for this fuel.

Feedstock Dependency: People are getting more dependent on feedstock for the production of HVO. This is linked to many factors of the economy and various policies.

Chances of Increased NOx Emissions: Some studies have shown that this fuel at times can lead to high discharges of NOx like the conventional kind of petrol and/or diesel. For this people are instructed to use proper exhaust systems.

Is HVO The Correct Choice?

After many points discussed this can still be a question that does everyone get the HVO fuel benefits and can the fuel be a correct choice for the users.

Make The Use Of HVO

There are many situations where you can make use of this fuel.

If you want low levels of degradation: In a situation when you need a low level of degradation you can use HVO fuel. For this you need to work on fuel storage issues like evaporation and oxidation.

If you need an alternative source to diesel: HVO has been considered as a great alternative source of diesel. It works for an easy transition and/or shift to a clean kind of fuel. 

If you want your fuel will be stored in any type of container: This fuel can be stored in any type of container like plastic and/or metal tank and even the single and double layered tanks.

If you have proper arrangement of tank maintenance: If the fuel tank you are using is maintained well you can use HVO. This will reduce all the chances of system failures.

If you want a fuel that is completely non-toxic: One of the main benefits of HVO fuel is it has much progressive efficiency of burning.  Researchers have said that it has the ability of reducing the toxins by 90%.

If you want a fuel that is approved by OEMs: The different OEMS or Original Equipment Manufacturers say that this fuel can be used in the different vehicles that carry heavy kinds of goods and even various passenger cars.

Do Not Use

Nevertheless, you may not be able to take the HVO fuel benefits in some of the situations.

If you have concerns for price: If you are more concerned with the price of fuel you may not use HVO fuel. This is because this fuel comes at a higher price at times than that of other diesel fuel and gasoline.

If you are in an area where this fuel is not supplied: In a few areas of the UK this fuel has some disturbance of supply and thus, you cannot make the order of HVO.

If the fuel container does not have proper labeling: The container of this fuel should be properly labeled. If it is not you should not take the delivery.

Wrapping Up

The substances of HVO fuel can be a better option for every home and business owner to use in their heating mechanisms. This can be used in the place of traditional kinds of fossil fuel or diesel. This fuel works for increasing the efficiency of the engine of the machine and releases fewer emissions of various harmful gases.

In addition, it also has some of the drawbacks. Like in some areas its proper delivery is not available and it can come in high levels of price. It cannot even fit in some of the old kinds of boilers.

However, to face the concerns of sustainability and environment more use of fuels like HVO should be done. Based on your all priorities this can be the best option for saving nature in the future. The government of the UK is also giving many incentives and grants for fuel furnace maintaining and taking HVO fuel benefits.