The Impact of Biofuels and Fuel Management
Instead of using conventional diesel in an emergency generator, you can also opt for biofuels. When combined with strict fuel management, this can significantly reduce (CO₂) emissions. Below, we explain the options and their effects.
What is biodiesel?
Voet Energy Solutions offers two cleaner diesel alternatives: HVO, a biodiesel, and GTL, a synthetic diesel. Both are cleaner than regular diesel.
GTL stands for Gas to Liquid. This synthetic diesel is made from natural gas. The main advantage is that it can be used in both older and newer diesel engines without requiring any modifications.
HVO stands for Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil and is a biodiesel made from used vegetable oils and waste products, such as animal fats. This cleaner diesel meets the European EN14214 standard and is sometimes referred to as “blue diesel.” Like GTL, HVO can be used in our generator engines without adjustments.
Emission benefits of biodiesel
These cleaner fuels emit far fewer harmful substances. The removal of certain hydrocarbons results in cleaner combustion, meaning less smoke, lower sulfur emissions, reduced particulate matter (PM), and lower nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.
When burned, GTL produces slightly less CO₂ than regular diesel, but because more energy is required during its production process, its overall CO₂ emissions are roughly equivalent to standard diesel.
HVO is different—its production emits less CO₂ because it is derived from biomass. When using 100% HVO, CO₂ reduction can be as high as 89%.
Price comparison (February 2022)
Fuel type | Price difference vs diesel |
|---|---|
Diesel | 0% |
GTL | +4% |
100% HVO | +13% |
Although biodiesel is more expensive, we believe the reduction in emissions justifies the cost. HVO can also be blended with regular diesel for a balanced approach.
The effect of fuel management
Nearly all our machines can be remotely monitored. Through an online portal, we can track generator performance in detail, including energy consumption, fuel tank levels, and error messages. This allows us to advise clients during projects—for example, suggesting a smaller generator to reduce fuel use and costs.
With Power Management, we can match maximum output to fluctuating energy demand. Energy consumption is rarely constant throughout the day. Instead of using one 500 kVA generator, we might deploy two 250 kVA generators with control systems that only generate the power required. In some cases, one unit can shut down entirely if the other can supply sufficient energy.
Additionally, all Voet Energy Solutions generators are equipped with timers, ensuring they never run during periods of no power demand—saving fuel, emissions, and costs.
