Top 5 tips: using HVO 100 fossil-free fuel instead of diesel
As boaters, there are few things we love more than exploring the secrets of the ocean, coasts, islands, lakes and rivers. Our on-the-water point of view fosters deep connections with our favorite waterways and tends to drive our want to minimize any environmental impact of our boating activities. The good news is that we don’t have to wait for future technologies to make boating more sustainable – we can act now.
Fuel choice is emerging as an immediate and effective way to address one issue. Did you know that if you have a Volvo Penta diesel engine, reducing your boat’s fossil fuel CO2 emissions by up to 90 percent is as easy as simply filling up with HVO 100 (hydrotreated vegetable oil) fossil-free fuel, instead of standard diesel? It sounds straight forward but naturally you might have a lot of questions when changing the fuel type for your boat or equipment. Here are the top 5 things to consider when making the switch to HVO 100 fossil-free fuel.
1. Choose the right biodiesel
There are basically two common types of biodiesel: FAME (fatty acid methyl ester) and HVO. For diesel powered boats we recommend HVO, more specifically HVO 100 – European standard EN15940 – because it has basically the same properties as standard diesel fuel (EN590), so you can use it in your boat as you would standard diesel fuel.
Did you know? FAME diesel storage tanks can over time experience bacterial and/or fungal growth, whereas HVO 100 has very similar storage and aging properties as standard diesel fossil fuel. So you don’t need to worry about storing your HVO 100 boat fuel any differently than you would your standard diesel fuel – for example, you can follow your current winter boat storage procedure without any need for changes.
2. Make sure your boat’s engine is verified for the safe use of HVO 100
All Volvo Penta diesel engines are verified for use with HVO 100 (EN15940) fossil-free fuel. So if your boat is powered by a Volvo Penta diesel engine, you don’t need to do anything except fuel up with HVO 100 and go about your usual adventures. There are no boat engine modifications necessary, nor any alterations required for your boat fuel storage, and no change to your service intervals or requirements. It’s business, or in this case, boating as usual.
Did you know? If your boat’s installation includes an SCR after-treatment system, no worries – HVO 100 fossil-free fuel does not impact the performance of your boat’s SCR unit, so everything runs normal as it should. HVO 100 (EN15940) Sulphur level is low: below 10ppm.
3. Mix and match HVO 100 and standard diesel – no worries
Because HVO 100 fossil-free fuel (EN15940) has basically the same properties as standard diesel fuel (EN590), you can mix the fuels in any ratio and your boat’s engine will continue running as normal without any difference. For example, if you have half a tank of standard diesel and find a HVO 100 pump at the marina, you can happily fuel up. Likewise, if you’re always fueling with HVO 100 in your home port because it’s readily available, but you come to another port where they only have diesel, then no worries – simply fuel up with diesel and your installation will continue running as normal on the mixed boat fuel.
Did you know? In countries such as Sweden, every time you fuel up your car with standard diesel (EN590) you’re actually fueling with a blend of fossil diesel and HVO and/or FAME – because in Sweden it’s required that all diesel is a mix including 26 percent biodiesel. So you might already be a HVO convert without even knowing it.
4. No need for range anxiety
If you convince your friendly neighborhood scientist to take one liter of fossil fuel diesel and compare it with one liter of HVO 100 fossil-free diesel, you’ll find that the two fuels are extremely close in all properties; but, yes, the HVO 100 fuel will measure as being a fraction lighter in density. This means it has slightly less energy. So, in theory, you can expect a minor statistical increase in your boat’s fuel consumption, but most users don’t notice any difference in real-world use.
Did you know? Sweden is one country that has offered tax exemptions for HVO 100 fossil-free fuel. What incentives might be available in your region to help offset any cost of switching to a more sustainable fuel choice?
5. Cost and availability
So, if HVO 100 really is a great choice because of all the above reasons – and if it’s so easy to reduce your fossil CO2 emissions by 90 percent simply by filling up from a different pump – then why isn’t everyone doing it? Well, there is a catch. Two, actually.
The first is availability. Standard diesel fuel production is very mature and widely used in every country around the world. HVO 100 fuel is still a young product with limited demand, is not as simple to produce and so isn’t readily available in all regions. In fact, it might not be available at all in some countries. In the countries where it is available, it can still be tricky to locate, especially if you’re travelling by sea. This latter issue is slightly offset by the fact that you can blend it with standard diesel, so you can simply use HVO 100 when it’s available and switch back when it’s not – any fossil CO2 emission reduction is a win, right?
The second and main catch for most potential users is cost. HVO 100 fuel is today more expensive than standard diesel, but hopefully over time and with increased use, that situation may improve.
So, what’s the verdict on HVO 100 fossil-free fuel for boats?
If your boat is powered by a Volvo Penta diesel engine, then, if HVO 100 is available in your area, you can switch to HVO 100 instead of diesel today – and you’ll achieve a significant improvement in the sustainability of your propulsion without having to invest in new equipment. In doing so you immediately reduce your boat engine’s fossil CO2 emissions (and achieve a slight particle reduction too). It’s that easy. All you need is to find a HVO 100 fossil-free fuel source and be willing to pay the extra cost.
This might be more viable for commercial users with regulations to adhere to and company sustainability ambitions to achieve, and the viability trend is heading in the right direction. That said, it’s becoming easier for the public to also find HVO 100 boat fuel in some regions. As more people learn about the benefits, demand will continue to increase, which in turn can help move the needle on production, availability and ultimately, lower the cost.
Like many emerging energy options, HVO 100 fossil-free fuel is not perfect, but what’s important is that we have a growing list of choices. Choices that allow us to act immediately, to cover the interim in a more sustainable way while we wait in anticipation for the next wave of Volvo Penta innovations in sustainable marine propulsion.
