Biofuel

The term biofuels usually refers to liquid fuels and blended components that are produced from biomass materials which are referred to as feedstocks. Biofuels are used as transportation fuels, as well as for heating and electricity generation.

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The Future of Diesel Fuel
Retail Diesel Dispenser Example
Retail Diesel Pumps with a variety of blends of diesel. Biodiesel, Renewable Diesel, and Fossil Diesel blends shown in Portland, Oregon.

Diesel Fuel In Oregon and Washington

Star Oilco has been getting questions on the changes of diesel in Portland, Oregon.  If you have not noticed, many diesel pumps at retail gas stations and cardlock have seen changing stickers on the face of the fuel pumps.  As of July 1st, 2024 the City of Portland requires a minimum 15% biofuel content of all diesel sold.  This policy is called the Portland Renewable Fuel Standard.

This has caused quite a few changes in what fuel pumps have for fuel.  Diesel fuel buyers are noticing the bright yellow color of B20 biodiesel, the water clear color of Renewable Diesel or a a mix of several fuels tinting the color of their diesel.  This trend is bigger than just Portland.

Today on the west coast there are a variety of product label stickers you will see on diesel pumps.  These show the variety of diesel fuel specifications that are being sold to diesel vehicles today. Blends of petroleum ultra low sulfur diesel, R99 (99%) renewable diesel, and B99 (99%) Biodiesel are combined to meet the market needs of the diesel we all buy.

This change is because of a combination of pure market forces, government rules and local decisions by fuel haulers.  Today’s diesel not only has a commodity market for the fuel it also has a market for CO2 credit value and a cap of total petroleum diesel fuel that can be sold into a west coast state with a “Cap and Invest” program requiring blends of low CO2 biofuels, the liquid fuels sold for vehicles.

Add on top of these market forces, advances in technology used to make the liquid diesel fuel.  The diesel arriving at truck stops, gas stations, cardlock or out of a hose from a bulk truck has been changing and it’s often in good ways.  Knowing how can be helpful in navigating why diesel may cost one price or another and may have a need or maintenance that another fuel does not.

THE RISE OF RENEWABLE DIESEL

Renewable diesel is a synthetic diesel fuel made from the same feedstock as biodiesel, but the finished product is hydrocarbon diesel.  Though it is a biofuel, it is also diesel. For fuel regulation they refer to it (as well as biodiesel) as “Biomass Based Diesel” for labeling at the fuel pump.

There have been billions of plant capacity brought online for renewable diesel.  During the COVID collapse of fuel prices a number of petroleum refineries shut down, then upgraded their technology to make hydrocarbon diesel fuels out of the very biobased fats, oils, and greases biodiesel is made from.  These refineries use hydrotreating technology just like they do with a crude petroleum to make an actual hydrocarbon diesel molecule.   With this technology adoption to make diesel and jet fuels from vegetable oils and animal fats billions of gallons of low CO2 diesel fuels are coming on the market and governments are requiring it’s use, such as Portland’s Renewable Fuel Standard.

Renewable Diesel Consumption it the US Source: Alternative Fuels Data Center

THE AVAILABILITY OF BIODIESEL

The US makes billions of gallons of biodiesel.  A fuel that’s quality and performance continues to improve.  If you are not a fan of biodiesel in your fuel thinking strategically about the fuel will likely benefit your fleet operation.  The big concern with diesel fuel in a ultra low sulfur world is water and dirt suspended in the fuel affecting the performance of diesel emission systems.  With clean and drier quality specifications of B99 blend stocks today versus a decade ago the use of this fuel has grown substantially especially in the truck stop market.

When crude petroleum prices are high and therefore refined diesel prices are equally as high biodiesel is often an extremely competitive fuel.  If a large seller of diesel (including petroleum refiners) can pick up pennies per gallons on millions of gallons sold they will do so.  Therefore Biodiesel is often seen in diesel in small blends even if you do not see a label on retail pump.  For blends above 5% a label is required for retail fuel sales. RTHWEST?

R99 Renewable Diesel fuel dispenser label
Ultra Low Sulfur Retail Diesel Label
Biodiesel Blend Percentage label for retail diesel dispenser

Above are a variety of labels used to denote what fuel blend is coming out of a retail diesel dispenser. Feel free to call Star Oilco at 503-283-1256 if this confuses you and you want it explained.  We would be glad to do so.

These labels can be found together often at one pump.  All state and Federal standards require ultra low sulfur diesel for any on-road diesel sale.  The Federal standards also adopted by the states require a disclosure at the fuel pump if a blend is above 5% biodiesel.  The max allowable blend of biodiesel for diesel truck manufactures is a 20% blend.  If a truck dealership says that you cannot blend biodiesel up to 20% they need to take that up with the Federal Government because they need to support it.  This is why the label shows a blend may contain between 5% and 20% biodiesel content.

Renewable diesel is a hydrocarbon diesel. 

 

It is diesel meeting the ASTM D975 specification for diesel. 

Retailers selling blends of R99 in their fuel do not need to label it given this.  They still do label it given the benefits of the fuel’s performance and that customers are seeking that fuel.

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Many retail places will have stacked labels showing they may be blending 5% to 20% biodiesel as well as may be adding R99 Renewable Diesel to the fuel as market conditions dictate it is the more cost competitive fuel.  When seeing a label like this it can usually be assumed they are blending a R80 (80% Renewable Diesel) and a B20 (20% Biodiesel) blend of fuel.  This blend is actually believed by some to be a higher performing fuel seeing better performance that a R99 or B20 fossil fuel blend.

Fossil fuel diesels are being replaced or blended with biomass based diesels.  Be it Renewable Diesel or Biodiesel.  These blends are driven by more than one industry requirements, government rules, or other market forces. One of these being Portland’s banned on petroleum diesel through the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). This is resulting in an increase of low-carbon biofuel blends that will ultimately move to a mix of 99% renewable fuel requirement by 2030.

Renewable Diesel and Biodiesel Blend fuel dispenser label.

The big drivers are industry specification for fuels (both labeling as well as chemical characteristics), state rules on selling these fuels, their quality assurance as well as CO2 content, and of course the market forces.  Market forces being the supply and demand availability of fuel needed to meet customers.  Less fuel available to sell means higher prices for customers.

A decade ago the market for diesel was far simpler. Though you had biofuels and some blend mandates basically you had a diesel specification accepted and the daily price as tracked by a lighted retailers sign, a wholesale market average or spot buying by some customers.   Today this market is far more complicated by government regulation on the west coast.  There are three big programs at state levels impacting this.

State Fuel Rules cause a unique need for one state or another. Whereas twenty years ago if Oregon or Washington fuel was selling for more than the Gulf Coast you might see brokers bring fuel into the region then driving down high prices.  With the creation of various complex and unique rules on diesel, imports of fuel to these low CO2 fuel states has dropped.  The amount of people moving product into west coast states has dropped.  The big rules causing this are the Cap and Invest programs of the West Coast states, the Low CO2 Fuel Standards of the states, and the fuel blend mandates of various jurisdictions of these states. For instance California now requires all off-road diesels but 99% renewable diesel.  Portland, Oregon also has a CO2 requirement and minimum 15% blend of biomass based diesel on all fuel sold in the state.

WHAT ARE THE DIESEL FUELS AND THEIR SPECIFICATIONS

Petroleum Diesel:
ASTM D975 Specification.

The ASTM D975 is a series of tests used to maintain consistent industry standard product performance for diesel fuel.  It includes among several tests cloud point, cold filter plug point (CFPP), several masurements of diesel fuel operability performance, intrained water content, sediment, carbon residue, ash, distillation, viscosity, sulfur, copper corrosion, cetane number, cetane index, aromaticity, and conductivity.

Renewable Diesel:
ASTM D975 Specification.

Renewable Diesel is following the same series of tests as petroleum refined diesel fuels.  It is the same ASTM D975 specification. Though Renewable Diesel has some different properties that exceed the ASTM specification of diesel.  Renewable Diesel is highly prized as a fuel because it typically is a cleaner and drier diesel fuel than petroleum diesel. This being seen by the tests on sediment and water content in a parts per million level.  Renewable Diesel content in diesel fuel can also be tested for looking for a C14 molecule (the chain typically created in a Hydrotreated Diesel process from fats, oils and greases.

Biodiesel (Methyl Esther):
ASTM D6751 Specification.

The ASTM for Biodiesel tests a mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils and animal fats. The testing for quality assurance covers an analysis for flash point, methanol, water and sediment, kinematic viscosity, sulfated ash, oxidation stability, sulfur, copper strip corrosion, cetane number, cloud point, acid number, carbon residue, total and free glycerin, phosphorus, reduce pressure distillation temperature, atmospheric equivalent temperature, combined calcium and magnesium, and combined sodium and magnesium.

For more on Biodiesel Use and Handling the National Renewable Energy Laboratory has a great book on the subject.

THE HISTORY OF DIESEL FUEL SPECIFICATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES

In the 1990’s the US EPA passed rules that demanded a phase out of sulfur in diesel fuel.  The presence of sulfur was very good for the fuel’s storage stability as well as fuel lubricity, but was horrible for air quality.   Additionally the big smog contributor was NOx (nitrous oxide) which was one of the EPA’s reason’s for pulling sulfur out of diesel.  For the EPA to get engine manufacturers to treat the NOx emissions at the tailpipe they needed all the sulfur gone (ultra low sulfur diesel) for modern diesel emission systems to be able to eliminate NOx as well as a host of other pollutants including particulates.

The story of changing diesel fuel standards in the US under the EPA is one of removing sulfur from our diesel fuel.  In 1996 the fuel refiners and sellers of diesel had to move the sulfur content of the fuel sold for on-road purposes to below a 500 parts per million standard. Commonly referred to as Low Sulfur Diesel fuel.   In 2006 the standard moved to a maximum of 15 parts per million of sulfur for all on road fuels.

In 2006 while the sulfur content of fuel was dropping the City of Portland released the first mandated blend of biodiesel content.  This being a 5% biodiesel blend.  The next year, the State of Oregon followed with its own Renewable Fuel Standard requiring this throughout the state.  This began the expectation of biodiesel in most diesel fuel in the Portland, Oregon area.  Washington also passed a similar policy for blending biodiesel but the enforcement and need for the fuel is less specific at Washington fuel pumps.

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What Is The Renewable Fuel Standard In Portland, Oregon? 1024 683 Star Oilco

What Is The Renewable Fuel Standard In Portland, Oregon?

Did you hear about the time Portland banned fossil fuel diesel?

Portland is making a big move to provide cleaner air and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Portland has implemented what’s called the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) beginning  its first phase on May 15th, 2024. The RFS policy in Portland mandates that there has to be an increase of use of low-carbon biofuels in diesel within city limits of Portland. This is part of the ultimate Climate Emergency plan. This RFS mandate was first implemented in 2006 as a B5 (5%) Biodiesel blend mandate with the goal of mandating a 20% blend. The RFS is the first of its kind not only in Oregon but in the entire United States. Portland’s reputation as a leader in environmental sustainability efforts continues. 

Portland’s Phases To Implement Almost 100% Renewable Diesel

What makes Portland’s mandate unique is the requirement that the biofuels have a CO2 value so low it bars most American made biodiesels. The blending requirement starts at 15% in 2024, and then it will steadily increase to 50% by 2026 and will reach 99% by 2030. This schedule demonstrates how Portland’s low-carbon ambition is present to transition away from fossil fuels and promote alternative energy sources.

This policy is expected to reduce air pollution and carbon emissions. It will also create new markets for biofuels, which will lead to increased economic opportunities. This will ultimately help the city become a more sustainable and environmentally friendly place to live as Portland has taken the lead in striving for sustainability over the years.

The policy will also help create jobs in the biofuel industry and provide opportunities for businesses to switch to renewable energy sources. It will also help reduce the city’s dependence on fossil fuels and protect the environment for future generations.

Want to learn more about meeting Portland’s requirements for the Renewable Fuel Standard mandate?

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Focus on Lower-Emission Biofuels

Uniquely, Portland’s RFS goes beyond just the biofuel blend. It also sets a strict carbon intensity (CI) standard for the biofuels themselves. This ensures the biodiesels used have a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to traditional options. Biodiesels produced domestically often fall short of this CI requirement, prompting many suppliers to look to renewable diesel sources. This focus on biofuels with a lower lifecycle carbon footprint makes Portland’s RFS even more impactful in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

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Exemptions and Implementation Details

The initial phase of the RFS targets on-road diesel sales. This applies to diesel purchased at gas stations, by mobile fueling companies, and for use in large stationary tanks. However, the long-term goal includes all diesel use within the city. Some temporary exemptions apply to off-road diesel uses such as heating oil, generator fuel, aircraft fuels, watercraft fuels, and other dyed fuel users. One local truck stop, Jubitz Truckstop, was granted a temporary exemption. This is likely due to concerns about disrupting critical transportation operations. Daimler (the manufacturer of Freightliner and Western Star trucks) has a research facility in Portland. Daimler was also granted an exemption to meet their specific fuel needs for testing purposes. 

The RFS enforces compliance through fuel sampling and requires documentation proving the fuel meets the minimum biofuel content and CI standards. Businesses that purchase diesel need to be able to show their compliance through bills of lading (BOLs) or similar records from their fuel provider, like Star Oilco. If a business does not comply and provide this documentation, it can result in pretty hefty fines. First offenses can be a fine of $10,000 per day. Repeat offenders will end up facing even bigger penalties of up to $15,000 per day. These fines can really show the impact of how serious Portland is taking this initiative. 

Impact on Businesses and Consumers

While residential consumers who don’t purchase diesel directly are not directly impacted, businesses purchasing diesel, especially in bulk, will need to adapt to the new regulations. This may involve acquiring documentation from fuel suppliers or entering into contracts guaranteeing compliant fuel blends. Wholesale fuel distributors, who sometimes purchase from multiple vendors and blend fuel mid-route, may face additional challenges in tracking the biofuel content and CI of their product. However, as the program matures, the industry is expected to adapt and streamline these compliance procedures.

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A Step Forward for Cleaner Transportation

Portland’s ambitious RFS sets a new expectation for sustainable transportation. Promoting low-carbon biofuels allows Portland to aim to significantly reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and be able to contribute to cleaner air for its residents. The RFS program will be able to serve as a model for other cities that are looking at implementing similar initiatives. Great job Portland for paving the way to a sustainable future for other cities! Although challenges will remain, as businesses adapt to this new norm, Portland’s RFS represents a significant step forward in creating a more sustainable transportation sector.

The RFS program is an important step in the fight towards sustainability and lower carbon fuels. It sends a clear message that cities are willing to take action to reduce emissions and protect the environment. We anticipate that other cities will follow Portland’s lead and create similar initiatives. This will have a significant impact in reducing emissions and helping to protect the environment.

It is a positive step towards a more sustainable future. Alternative fuels have become more and more readily available. Investing in alternative fuels and reducing carbon emissions is essential for protecting the planet for future generations. Governments should prioritize investing in renewable energy sources and incentivize communities to switch to alternative fuel solutions.

Thank you for choosing Star Oilco as your preferred fuel provider in Portland and Vancouver, Washington. Give us a call to discuss how the RFS mandate can affect your business and one of our team members would be happy to discuss this with you.

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Understanding The Renewable Fuel Standard In Portland 1024 682 Star Oilco

Understanding The Renewable Fuel Standard In Portland

Diesel Fuel Is Changing In Portland With The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)

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Figuring out what this means for you or your business can be challenging. We have shared many questions that we have been asked already, to help provide more clarity on what this Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) means for Wholesale Purchaser-Consumers​. If your question isn’t listed below, please reach out to Star Oilco so we can make sure your questions are answered!

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What is the Portland's Renewable Fuel Standard?

The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is Portland City Counsel’s response to the City’s 2022-2025 Climate Emergency Workplan, which lists the City’s priority actions over the next three years.​

On Dec. 7, 2022, City Council unanimously adopted amendments to the Renewable Fuel Standard, Portland City Code Chapter 16.60, which reduces dependence on nonrenewable fossil fuels, by increasing the required percentage of renewable fuels blended with petroleum diesel sold in the city of Portland.​

This policy increases low-carbon biofuel blends, moving Portland’s diesel fuel mix to 99% renewable in 2030. This policy includes a carbon intensity standard to shift to fuels that are lower carbon across their entire lifecycle.

What Does The Renewable Fuel Standard Mean For Me?

Portlands Renewable Fuel Standard Requirements

 Starting July 1, 2024, Portland will require that all diesel fuel sold contain a minimum 15% blend of biodiesel or renewable diesel. This percentage will increase steadily over the next few years, reaching a minimum 99% renewable fuel requirement by July 1, 2030.

There are no reporting requirements for retailers to comply with this mandate. Instead, the city will enforce compliance through random on-site inspections and by requiring retailers to maintain records of the biofuel content of the diesel they sell.

Who Does The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Apply To?

  • The policy speaks to “Covered Entities”​
  • Diesel Fuel Transaction within the City of Portland Oregon​
  • Fuel distributors, resellers, retailers, nonretail dealers, terminals, importers and wholesale purchaser-consumers are directly regulated by PCC Chapter 16.60 and referred to as “covered entities.”
  • Wholesale Purchaser-Consumers​: also know as WPCs are directly regulated by PCC Chapter 16.60 and referred to as “covered entities.”​

What Are Considered Wholesale Purchaser-Consumers ?

Wholesale purchaser-consumer (WPC) is a category of entities that own or utilize diesel vehicle fleets and purchase fuel in bulk for delivery into a storage tank at their facility or directly into a vehicles fuel tank. WPCs are required to register with the RFS program.​

A fuel distributor or common carrier delivers on road diesel to your facilities on-site tank such as: ​

  • Bulk Tank​
  • Aboveground Storage Tank (AST)​
  • Underground Storage Tank (UST)​

A fuel distributor delivers on road diesel directly into your vehicles also known as:​

  • On-Site Fleet Fueling​
  • Wet Hose Fueling​

Does The RFS Only Apply To Wholesale Purchaser-Consumers of Diesel Fuel?

Yes, these rules apply to fuel for on-road motor vehicles. Fuels used for the following purposes are not covered by these rules: ​

  1. Railroad locomotives, watercraft, aircraft, and emergency equipment​
  2. Dyed diesel for off-road vehicles​
  3. Dyed diesel for furnaces, boilers, generators​
  4. Propane and liquefied natural gas for vehicles​

What Are The Requirements To Meet The RFS?

Wholesale Purchaser-Consumers are required to meet three primary components of the RFS:​

  1. Biofuel Minimum Content Requirements,​
  2. Carbon Intensity standard,​
  3. Selecting a compliance option, and​
  4. Record keeping.​

What is the biofuel minimum content requirements for Wholesale Purchaser-Consumers ?

Biofuel Minimum Content Requirements for Wholesale Purchaser-Consumers​

  • WPCs in the City of Portland are required to meet the minimum biofuel content requirements for all fuel they purchase for their vehicle fleet. Beginning July 1, 2024, all diesel purchased must include 15% biofuel content, from either renewable diesel or biodiesel. This requirement increases to 50% on July 1, 2026, and 99% on July 1, 2030.​
  • The biofuel content requirements will be enforced through random inspections of fleet facilities to see that they (1) have a contract in place with fuel suppliers that specifies that fuel meets the minimum blend requirements, or (2) verification of actual products purchased through testing or review of product transfer documents.

What is the Carbon Intensity (CI) Standard for Wholesale Purchaser-Consumers ?

  • All WPCs also need to be aware of the Carbon Intensity Standard in PCC Chapter 16.60.​
  • All biodiesel and renewable diesel sold in the City of Portland must have a carbon intensity equal to or less than 40g CO2e/MJ as certified by DEQ’s Clean Fuels Program, Approved Carbon Intensity Values.​
  • Carbon intensity requirements apply to biofuel blendstock, not the final blended products, which may contain a portion of petroleum-based diesel fuel at a higher carbon intensity.​

Selecting a compliance option for Wholesale Purchaser-Consumers​

  • WPCs will need to select a compliance option by the start of the compliance period, July 1, 2024.​
  • Portland Bureau of Planning & Sustainability (BPS) will provide notification about selecting compliance options by May 31, 2024.​
  • To receive notification, covered entities must be registered with the RFS Program. ​

*Compliance option selection may be changed at any time during the compliance period after consulting with BPS. If a covered entity decides to change the compliance option during the compliance period, they are responsible for compliance under the new option for the full compliance period.

Record Keeping Requirements for Wholesale Purchaser-Consumers​

Portland City Code (PCC) Chapter 16.60 and administrative rules requires that an invoice, bill of lading, shipping paper, or other documentation, referred to as “Product Transfer Documents” (PTD) must accompany each fuel delivery in the city of Portland. The administrative rules specify that:​

  1. PTDs must include the type of renewable fuel, including biodiesel, renewable diesel, ethanol, or any blends of these fuels, and declare the volume percent of such renewable fuel.​
  2. PTDs must comply with OAR 603-027-0430 (1) (a) which includes identifying the quantity, the name of the product, the name and address of the seller and buyer, and the date and time of the sale.​
  3. WPCs using the Product Transfer Document compliance pathway must also ensure that fuel pathway codes issued by Oregon Clean Fuels Program are also included on a PTD associated with each delivery received by the WPC or have a contract with a fuel supplier specifying the carbon intensity requirements of PCC Chapter 16.60.​

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Every Question We Have Been Asked About Renewable Diesel 1024 696 Star Oilco

Every Question We Have Been Asked About Renewable Diesel

Renewable Diesel Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Every Question we have been asked about Renewable Diesel

What is renewable diesel?

Renewable diesel is a synthetic diesel fuel, known for it’s lower CO2 characteristics, typically seeing purity and real world performance response superior to petroleum diesel fuel.  Renewable diesel is a next generation hydrocarbon diesel biofuel made by either the Fischer-Tropsch or Hydrogenation processes.

Hydrogenated renewable diesel is made by taking fats, oils, and greases by use of a hydro-treater.  The biomass based oil or fat is cracked and reformed in the presence of hydrogen and  catalyst forming a hydrocarbon diesel molecule.

Fischer-Tropsch renewable diesel is used by converting any btu dense feedstock (wood waste, woody biomass, municipal garbage, coal, and an endless list of low value waste products into syngas, then converting this into a wax that is reformed into hydrocarbon diesel.

Can Renewable Diesel be used as Heating Oil?

Yes.  Renewable Diesel is a synthetic hydrocarbon diesel fuel.  It can be used interchangeably with petroleum diesel products of similar grade. Heating Oil is typically number 2 diesel which is the same specification as Dyed R99 Renewable Diesel (or blends of Renewable Diesel with petroleum diesel).   Star Oilco now offers R99 Heating Oil delivered in the Portland metro region area of Oregon.

Most modern oil heat appliances use a Becket Burner.  For more on heating fuel compatibility with oil furnaces and oil burning appliance please see “Alternative Fuels and Becket Burners” for more information.

Why do people use renewable diesel over petroleum diesel?

Fleet managers operating R99 Renewable Diesel report a lower mechanical cost of operation using the fuel.  Beyond the immediate benefit of R99 cutting CO2 emissions by half or more, fleets experience performance benefits from the fuel.  The big savings are seen the the performance of Tier 4 Emission systems on modern diesel seeing far less wear of the Diesel Particulate Filter system as well as far fewer regenerations of the system.  Additionally Renewable Diesel is a very clean and dry diesel fuel improving the storage stability, field operation, and general predictability of the fuel’s performance.

How do I know Renewable Diesel is being sold at a retail location?

Renewable Diesel is a hydrocarbon diesel that meets the specification for petroleum diesel known as ASTM D975 specification.  This means currently R99 can be readily blended and sold with petroleum diesel without a disclosure.  The US Federal Trade Commission and local state Weights and Measures have rules for retail pump labeling.  Blend percentages of biomass based diesel must be labeled especially if being advertised.  As R99 Renewable Diesel has a higher value and is sought out by many consumers though usually it is disclosed.  The pump labeling for R99 Renewable Diesel typically looks like the below.

R99 Renewable Diesel fuel dispenser label

What is renewable diesel made of?

Renewable diesel can be made from a host of things, usually a low value waste product. The most common feedstock used currently is waste vegetable oil, wastes from animal rendering, and other biologically derived oils. Processes using bio-oils are following a Hydrogenation process to turn low value waste oils into high value diesel and jet fuel.

Chevron Renewable Energy Group and Diamond Green Diesel (Diamond Green is in a joint venture with Valero) are the largest producer of renewable diesel with their REG Ultra Clean Diesel product in the United States. Neste is the largest producer of renewable diesel internationally, with its “Neste My” product.  being the two largest producers of low CO2 bio-oil derived renewable diesel fuels.

Major petroleum refiners have also turned around existing petroleum refineries into Renewable Diesel Refineries to produce this in demand low CO2 fuel. HF Sinclair , Marathon, Phillips 66, and Montana Renewables. There are quite a few newer Renewable Diesel projects planned and in progress around the United States as well as in the Pacific Northwest.

Other refiners of renewable diesel (on a much smaller scale of production) are using a Fischer-Tropsch process with wood waste, sorted higher grade municipal garbage, and other high btu value carbon based waste products.  Many expect this to technology to be the future of all diesel and jet fuel refining turning refuse into fungible low carbon fuel.

What is renewable hydrocarbon diesel?

Renewable hydrocarbon diesel is a synthetic diesel fuel made from non-petroleum feedstocks like vegetable oil, animal fats, municipal waste, agricultural biomass, and woody biomass. It is characterized by having a low CO2 and renewable resource for its feedstock and is made without crude petroleum, coal, or natural gas as a direct feedstock input in the refining process.

How do they make renewable diesel?

Renewable diesel is made by several processes. If you are buying renewable diesel, it is probably from a Hydrogenation process used by Renewable Energy Group and Neste for their products. Other smaller volume producers are using a Fischer-Tropsch process or Fast Pyrolysis. Both processes involve taking energy dense molecules, cracking those molecules under heat and pressure, then reforming them in the presence of a catalyst and added hydrogen, which forms a renewable diesel molecule.

Is renewable diesel a lower carbon fuel compared to petroleum diesel?

Yes, to this point all renewable diesel made from renewable feedstocks have appeared to be a lower CO2 fuel compared to petroleum diesels. The California Air Research Board in particular has done research on this in depth.

The low CO2 lifecycle emissions of Renewable Diesel also is tracked closely and supervised by California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, Washington’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, and Oregon’s Clean Fuels Program. The highest value markets for low CO2 fuels in the United States are California and Oregon, which both have mechanisms that track and price the CO2 intensity of diesel fuels as well as the sustainable lower CO2 substitutes and blend-stocks that can go in those diesels. They track, rate, and determine the carbon intensity of the fuels providing a neutral and scientifically defensible number for CO2 reduction.

Is renewable diesel available in Oregon?

Renewable diesel is readily available for delivery from Star Oilco throughout the Pacific Northwest via 10,000 gallon volumes of bulk delivery.   Star Oilco is also offering bulk delivery of any size and mobile onsite fueling service within 100 miles of the Portland, Oregon market.

Star Oilco has R99 Renewable Diesel available with a Star Oilco CFN Cardlock card in Portland, Oregon.

What is the difference between biodiesel and renewable diesel?

Biodiesel and renewable diesel are very different fuels made with very different processes. In a nutshell, biodiesel is made with a simple chemical reaction that turns vegetable and animal fats into fuel. Renewable diesel is made from far more complicated process where vegetable and animal fats (as well as other feedstocks) are cracked on a molecular level and built back into synthetic diesel fuel.

What is the difference between renewable diesel and Sustainable Aviation Fuel?

The difference between the fuels is the specific gravity and general specification for what the fuel is used for. Jet fuel, or Sustainable Aviation Fuel, and on-road diesel fuel are different fuels and therefore have different specifications. Renewable diesel is typically referring to a #2 diesel specification for on road diesel use.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel or “SAF” is typically referring to “Jet A” or “JP8” jet fuel specification for fuel. This is a #1 diesel range fuel with use and handling requirements that are far more stringent than for on-road or off-road diesel fuels. Renewable jet fuel can be used as a kerosene or #1 diesel fuel but renewable diesel cannot be used as a jet fuel.

Where do I buy renewable diesel in Oregon or Washington?

Renewable Diesel is currently available for bulk delivery and mobile onsite fueling. It will soon be offered at commercial cardlock in the Portland area. It is being sold as R99 and as Ultra Clean Diesel, which is a mixture of biodiesel, renewable diesel, and petroleum diesel.

What is R99?

R99 stands for 99% renewable diesel and 1% petroleum diesel.  Federal rules over alternative diesel fuels made fuels requires that manufacturers of non-petroleum derived diesel fuels must blend a minimum 1% petroleum with the fuel to generate a Renewable Industry Number or “RIN” under the US Federal Renewable Fuel Standard. Additionally there are other incentives that require a “blender of record” to receive these tax credits.

Is renewable diesel being made in Oregon?

As of Spring 2022, renewable diesel is not being manufactured in Oregon. There is a major projects underway, Next Renewable Fuels in Port Westward, Oregon.

What is renewable diesel made from?

Renewable diesel can be made from many energy dense carbon based material.  By volume of produced product sold in the United States, vegetable oils and animal fat-based wastes are the most common feedstock. Woody biomass, agricultural wastes, and sorted municipal wastes are also sources for renewable diesel production.

Is renewable diesel made from palm oil?

Palm oil can be used as a feedstock for renewable diesel. There are producers who use palm oil as a feedstock. In the United States, feedstocks and carbon intensity are tracked closely under both Oregon and California’s fuel programs.  You can determine if a supplier is using palm oil as a feedstock through these regulated pathways.

How much does renewable diesel cost?

This is a tough question to answer given there are several markets intersecting.  From the feedstocks to the market demand for the finished product as well as both California and Oregon’s Clean Fuel Standards which place a price on the CO2 intensity of the fuel which reduces the cost of the fuel if consumed in Oregon and California.

It has consistently been trending between the same cost and over $1 a gallon higher than petroleum diesel depending on the state, you buy renewable diesel in. In California, renewable diesel is very close to petroleum diesel depending on the value of CO2 credits for lower-carbon fuels. In Oregon, it has consistently been between $.05 to $.80 a gallon higher than diesel also depending on the value of CO2 abatement associated with the fuel and what these carbon credits are trading for.

When petroleum diesel costs are high Renewable Diesel tends to be more competitive with petroleum diesel.  When petroleum diesel is below $3 a gallon the cost of Renewable Diesel by comparison is usually higher unless CO2 credits are in higher than normal demand for Clean Fuels Program demands.

Can you mix petroleum diesel and renewable diesel?

Yes. Renewable diesel and petroleum diesel can be blended in any mixture without worry. They are drop-in substitutes for each other in your fleet’s use.  Renewable Diesel is a drop-in fuel. It is a hydrocarbon diesel that will work mixed with diesel or biodiesel blends of petroleum diesel.

More questions coming… or if you would like to learn more contact us.

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What Are Our Options for Alternative Fuels? 1024 578 Star Oilco

What Are Our Options for Alternative Fuels?

What are our options for alternative fuel?

Biofuels are eco-friendly fuel choices because they are made from renewable resources and produce fewer emissions than fossil fuels. Biofuels and biodiesel can also be used to improve air quality. They also allow us to reduce the dependence we have on using fossil fuels. 

Biofuels are liquid fuels produced from biomass, which is organic matter such as plants, algae, and agricultural waste. Biofuels can be used to power vehicles, generate electricity, and heat homes and businesses.  Biofuels are renewable and can reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. They provide an alternative to fossil fuels and help to conserve natural resources. Reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases is an important factor in helping to combat climate change. Biofuels have the potential to be a significant part of the solution. Biofuels can reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by replacing fossil fuels, which are made from non-renewable sources. Using biofuels instead of fossil fuels can also help to reduce air pollution. 

Some common types of biofuels include: 

Ethanol

Ethanol is a type of alcohol that is made from fermented corn, sugarcane, and other crops. It is blended with gasoline to create E85, a fuel that can be used in flexible-fuel vehicles.  This type of fuel is cheaper than regular gasoline, and it is more environmentally friendly. It is also safer to store and transport than other types of fuel. The benefits of using ethanol fuel include reduced emissions of carbon dioxide, improved air quality, and increased energy security. It is also renewable and biodegradable, making it a more sustainable fuel choice. Additionally, the production and use of ethanol fuel can create jobs and support local economies. 

 

Biodiesel

Biodiesel is a type of diesel fuel that is made from vegetable oils, animal fats, and waste grease. It can be used in unmodified diesel engines as a drop-in solution. It is a renewable fuel and emits less carbon dioxide than petroleum-based diesel. Biodiesel is also less toxic and it’s biodegradable. The benefits of biodiesel include reduced emissions of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and unburned hydrocarbons; improved combustion efficiency and power output; improved lubricity; and improved fuel economy. Additionally, biodiesel is biodegradable and has a lower energy content than petroleum-based diesel, making it safer to handle and transport in the Portland, Oregon metro area as well as Vancouver, Washington. 

Biodiesel can be used in a variety of applications, including transportation, heating and electricity. Biodiesel is used in transportation to power diesel engines in cars, trucks, buses, and other vehicles. Biodiesel can also be used to heat homes and businesses. Biodiesel also can generate electricity in power plants.  

Biodiesel is a promising alternative to petroleum diesel, and its use is growing around the world. The United States is the world’s largest producer of biodiesel. 

Algae-based biofuels

Algae-based biofuels are a new type of biofuel that is made from algae. Algae are a rapidly renewable resource that can be grown in a variety of environments. Algae is a group of photosynthetic organisms that grow in water. Algae have the potential to produce significantly more oil than traditional biofuel crops, such as corn and soybeans, and they can be grown on non-arable land, such as saltwater or wastewater. This makes algae an attractive potential source of renewable fuel. 

When algae are grown in the right conditions, they can produce up to 77% oil, which can be converted into biodiesel, renewable diesel, or other biofuels such as ethanol, butanol and jet fuel. Algae-based biofuels have the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, electricity generation, and other industries. However, there are still challenges that need to be overcome before algae-based biofuels can be commercially viable. These challenges include scalable production, costs, efficient harvesting and efficient processing to extract the oil. There is a lot of research and development underway to overcome these challenges and with continued investment, algae-based biofuels have the potential to become a major source of renewable fuel in the future. 

 

Hydrogen

Hydrogen is a versatile energy carrier that has the potential to play a significant role in the transition to a clean energy future. It is the most abundant element in the universe and can be produced from a variety of sources, including natural gas, biomass, and renewable electricity. When used in a fuel cell, hydrogen produces only water and heat, making it a clean and efficient fuel source. 

Using hydrogen as a fuel provides clean burning, a high energy density, efficiency, among many other benefits. Hydrogen doesn’t produce any emissions of harmful pollutants which makes it an attractive option as a fossil fuel alternative. Hydrogen’s high energy density means that a relatively small amount of hydrogen can provide a lot of energy. Using hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity are 2-3 times more efficient than internal combustion engines. It can also be used in a wide range of applications, including transportation, electricity generation as well as industrial processes.  

Some of the challenges we face with hydrogen as a fuel are its current methods of production. They are not always as clean or sustainable currently. Storing hydrogen, being a gas, requires specialized storage tanks. The infrastructure for transporting and distributing hydrogen is not yet fully developed.  

Overall, there is a growing interest in using hydrogen as a fuel source with very promising results and possibilities in our future. Governments and businesses all over the world have been investing in research and development to figure out solutions to these challenges in order to make hydrogen a more viable energy source.  

Renewable Diesel

Renewable diesel can also be known as hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO) or green diesel, and is a type of biofuel that is chemically identical to petroleum diesel. It is produced from a variety of feedstocks, including vegetable oils, animal fats, and waste oils. Renewable diesel can be used in any diesel engine without modification, and it offers a number of environmental benefits over petroleum diesel, including: 

 

Reduced greenhouse gas emissions 

Renewable diesel (R99) reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% compared to petroleum diesel. R99 being cleaner and more efficient, makes it an attractive option for many transportation companies. 

 

Improved air quality 

Renewable diesel produces fewer harmful pollutants, such as particulate matter and sulfur oxides, than petroleum diesel. Additionally, renewable diesel is lower in carbon than petroleum diesel, making it a more sustainable option for transportation. Renewable diesel is also more efficient, reducing the amount of energy needed to produce the same amount of fuel. 

 

Biodegradability  

Renewable diesel is biodegradable, meaning that it breaks down naturally in the environment.  This helps to reduce the amount of harmful pollutants in the environment. Renewable diesel also reduces emissions of carbon dioxide, a major contributor to climate change. 

Renewable diesel is a promising alternative to petroleum diesel, and its use is growing around the world. The United States is the world’s largest producer of renewable diesel, and the European Union has a mandate to use 10% renewable diesel by 2030.  

Even more of the benefits of using renewable diesel:  

The use of renewable diesel helps reduce our dependence on fossil fuels since it is a renewable fuel.  

The local economy can be supported by renewable diesel, which is often produced from local crops.  

A number of sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, and transportation, create jobs in the renewable diesel industry.  

Ultimately, renewable diesel is a clean and sustainable fuel that offers environmental and economic benefits. Around the world, its use is growing as an alternative to petroleum diesel. Renewable diesel helps to reduce air pollution, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce dependence on foreign oil. It is also a renewable and sustainable fuel source that can be used to produce electricity. As such, renewable diesel is an important option for reducing carbon emissions and improving sustainability overall. 

When we look at the variety of renewable and biofuel opportunities, there are a variety of ways that we can reduce our carbon footprint today without any modifications to our current engines. However, long term, we have opportunities that we can explore for where we believe that our future is going and the solutions that can allow for an even greater impact to our Pacific Northwest carbon footprint and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Among all of the renewable resources, we can reduce air pollution, increase economic benefits and create a more sustainable future for the Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA metro areas. As technology continues to improve and the production of biofuels and biodiesel becomes more efficient, these fuels are likely to become more affordable and widely available. Feel free to give Star Oilco a call today to discuss your fueling needs today and how we can provide you with renewable sources today as a drop-in solution. 

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Renewable Diesel vs Biodiesel 683 1024 Star Oilco

Renewable Diesel vs Biodiesel

What’s the difference and how do they compare in price? 

If you are looking for a cleaner and greener alternative to diesel fuel, you might have come across two options: renewable diesel and biodiesel. Both fuels are made from organic sources, such as vegetable oils and animal fats, but they have different production processes and properties. In this blog post, we will compare renewable diesel and biodiesel in terms of their pros and cons, as well as their prices and incentives in Oregon. 

What is Renewable Diesel? 

Renewable diesel is a fuel that is chemically identical to petroleum diesel, but it is made from renewable raw materials through a process called hydrotreating. Hydrotreating removes impurities and oxygen from the feedstock, resulting in a pure and refined fuel that can be used in any diesel engine without modifications or blending. Renewable diesel (R99) has a high cetane number, which means it ignites easily and burns efficiently. It also has a low cloud point, which means it can withstand cold temperatures without gelling or clogging filters. 

What is Biodiesel? 

Biodiesel is a fuel that is made from renewable raw materials through a process called transesterification. Transesterification converts the feedstock into fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), which are then blended with petroleum diesel at various ratios. Biodiesel can be used in most diesel engines, but it may require some modifications or adjustments depending on the blend level and the engine type. Biodiesel has a lower cetane number than renewable diesel, which means it may not ignite or burn as well. It also has a higher cloud point than renewable diesel, which means it may gel or clog filters in cold weather. 

The cost of renewable diesel and biodiesel depends on various factors, such as the type and availability of feedstock, the production process, the market demand, and the government incentives. In general, renewable diesel is more expensive than biodiesel, as it requires more complex processing and higher quality feedstock. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the average wholesale price of renewable diesel in California was $3.06 per gallon in October 2021, while the average wholesale price of biodiesel was $2.76 per gallon in the same month. However, both renewable diesel and biodiesel can benefit from federal RIN’s and state credits such as the low carbon fuel standards, which can lower their effective prices and make them more competitive with petroleum diesel. As of July 10th of 2023 renewable diesel (R99) in Portland Oregon was 60 cents higher than biodiesel (B99). 

 Renewable Diesel vs Biodiesel Carbon Intensity 

According to CARB, the carbon intensity of biodiesel ranges from 14.85 to 67.45 gCO2e/MJ and, renewable diesel ranges from 15.84 to 62.86 gCO2e/MJ, depending on the feedstock and production pathway. The lowest carbon intensity for biodiesel is achieved by using waste cooking oil as the feedstock and renewable methanol as the transesterification agent. The highest carbon intensity is associated with using soybean oil as the feedstock and fossil-based methanol as the transesterification agent. The lowest carbon intensity for renewable diesel is achieved by using waste cooking oil as the feedstock and renewable hydrogen as the hydrotreating agent. The highest carbon intensity is associated with using soybean oil as the feedstock and fossil-based hydrogen as the hydrotreating agent. 

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Pros and Cons of Renewable Diesel and Biodiesel 

Both renewable diesel and biodiesel have some advantages and disadvantages compared to petroleum diesel. Here are some of the main pros and cons of each fuel:  

Renewable Diesel Pros: 

– Reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 75% compared to petroleum diesel 

– Reduces tailpipe emissions of particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons 

– Improves engine performance and efficiency with fewer regeneration cycles of the emissions system 

– Compatible with existing infrastructure and vehicles 

– Biodegradable and nontoxic 

Renewable Diesel Cons: 

– More expensive than petroleum diesel 

– Limited availability and supply 

– May increase emissions of sulfur dioxide 

Biodiesel Pros: 

– Reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 78% compared to petroleum diesel 

– Reduces tailpipe emissions of particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons 

– Biodegradable and nontoxic 

– Supports domestic agriculture and energy security 

 Biodiesel Cons: 

– May increase emissions of nitrogen oxides 

– May cause engine problems such as injector coking, filter plugging, corrosion, and reduced lubricity 

– May degrade over time or when exposed to water or microbes 

Oregon Prices and Incentives for Renewable Diesel and Biodiesel 

Oregon is one of the states that has adopted a Clean Fuels Program (CFP), which aims to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels by 10% by 2025. The CFP creates a market for low-carbon fuels such as renewable diesel and biodiesel by requiring fuel suppliers to either blend them with petroleum diesel or buy credits from low-carbon fuel producers. The CFP also provides incentives for consumers to use low-carbon fuels by reducing their fuel taxes. 

According to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the average price of diesel in Oregon as of November 2021 was $3.87 per gallon. The average price of biodiesel blends ranged from $3.88 per gallon for B5 (5% biodiesel) to $4.01 per gallon for B20 (20% biodiesel). The average price of renewable diesel was $4.05 per gallon. As of July 2023 the price of renewable diesel (R99) in Oregon was 50 to 60 cents higher than biodiesel (B99). 

The DEQ also provides a Fuel Cost Calculator that allows consumers to compare the costs and benefits of different fuels based on their vehicle type, fuel efficiency, annual mileage, fuel price, carbon intensity, and tax rate. According to the calculator, using renewable diesel instead of petroleum diesel would save an average consumer $34 per year in fuel costs and reduce their carbon emissions by 1.6 metric tons per year. Using biodiesel instead of petroleum diesel would save an average consumer $12 per year in fuel costs and reduce their carbon emissions by 0.8 metric tons per year. 

Renewable diesel and biodiesel are both viable alternatives to petroleum diesel that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support renewable energy sources. However, they also have some trade-offs in terms of cost, availability, performance, and emissions. Consumers should consider their vehicle type, driving habits, fuel preferences, and environmental goals when choosing between these fuels. Oregon offers some incentives and programs to encourage the use of low-carbon fuels such as renewable diesel and biodiesel, which can help consumers save money and reduce their carbon footprint. 

Alternative Fuels in Portland, OR
How Renewable Diesel Is Made 940 788 Star Oilco

How Renewable Diesel Is Made

Renewable diesel is a type of biofuel

Renewable diesel is a type of biofuel that is chemically similar to petroleum diesel and can be used in any diesel engine. It can be produced from various feedstocks, such as vegetable oils, animal fats, waste cooking oil, and algae. Renewable diesel can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality compared to petroleum diesel⁵. 

The most common way to produce renewable diesel is by hydroprocessing, which involves reacting the feedstock with hydrogen under high temperature and pressure in the presence of a catalyst. This process removes oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, and other impurities from the feedstock and converts it into hydrocarbons that are similar to those in petroleum diesel⁴⁵. Hydroprocessing is also used in petroleum refineries to upgrade crude oil into various fuels, such as renewable diesel. 

Other ways to produce renewable diesel include pyrolysis, which involves heating the feedstock in the absence of oxygen to produce a liquid bio-oil that can be further upgraded into renewable diesel; gasificationmar, which involves converting the feedstock into a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen (syngas) that can be synthesized into renewable diesel; and biochemical and thermochemical technologies, which involve using enzymes, microorganisms, or catalysts to convert the feedstock into renewable diesel⁴. 

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), U.S. production capacity for renewable diesel could increase significantly through 2024, based on several announced and developing projects. This growth is driven by higher state and federal targets for renewable fuel, favorable tax credits, and the conversion of existing petroleum refineries into renewable diesel refineries². As of the end of 2020, U.S. renewable diesel production capacity totaled nearly 0.6 billion gallons per year (gal/y), or 38,000 barrels per day (b/d). Several projects currently under construction could increase this capacity by 2.4 billion gal/y; proposed and announced projects would add another 1.8 billion gal/y by 2024. If all projects come online as intended, U.S. renewable diesel production would total 5.1 billion gal/y (330,000 b/d) by the end of 2024². 

Globally, over 1.45 billion gallons of renewable diesel are produced annually and are forecasted to grow up to 3.34 billion gallons in 2024. Neste, a Finland based petroleum refining company, is currently dominating the production of renewable diesel¹. Other major producers include Diamond Green Diesel in the U.S., ENI in Italy, Total in France, and Preem in Sweden¹. 

Resources:

(1) Renewable Diesel – Alternative Fuels Data Center.

(2) Renewable Diesel – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. 

(3) U.S. renewable diesel capacity could increase 

(4) Renewable Diesel: The Fuel of the Future – FutureBridge.

(5) Overview of the Production Capacity of U.S. Renewable Diesel Plants

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Star Oilco Speaks On Decarbonizing Heavy Duty Trucks 1024 768 Star Oilco

Star Oilco Speaks On Decarbonizing Heavy Duty Trucks

Decarbonizing Heavy Duty Fleets By Using B99 Biodiesel.

Mark Fitz joined the Clean Cities Coalition Mindful Mobility Tech Talk series for their High GHG Reductions webinar. Mark spoke on the benefits of B99 and how fleets can begin decarbonizing their emissions today!
On September 28th, 2022, three representatives were invited to speak on how they are not only saving large amounts of energy but are also having a big impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

B99 Biodiesel reduces CO2 footprint of a 105,500 GVW truck and trailer by more than half at a lower cost than petroleum diesel.

How Can I Utilize B99 or B100 for Decarbonizing My Own Fleet?

Star Oilco uses The Vector System developed by Pittsburgh-based Optimus Technologies. The Vector System allows upgrades for any medium or heavy-duty engine to operate on 100% biodiesel. This is the only EPA-compliant biodiesel engine system and can be installed in as little as 12 hours. Contact Optimus Technologies or reach out to Star Oilco locally to learn more about The Vector System.

Star Oilco’s Field Test

Star Oilco fielded the Optimus Technologies system on our 105,500 GVW truck and trailers.  We began with a single Freighliner truck and trailer operating a Cummins ISX as a trial.  This truck’s typical route was approximately 305 miles round trip from Portland, Oregon to Grays Harbor, Washington.

Over the last year and a half this truck has performed amazingly well. The only maintenance concern is swapping the fuel filters more regularly with every oil change.  Neither drivers nor our Elog system noticed differences in mileage and power.  On a few occasions a loss of power was experienced requiring an in between service fuel filter swap.

Follow the links below for more information on B99 Biodiesel and Star Oilco’s field test of the Optimus Technologies System:

B99 Biodiesel As A Heavy Duty Fuel

Biodiesel As A Heavy Duty Low Co2 Solution

This event is part of the Columbia Willamette Clean Cities Coalition’s Mindful Mobility Tech Talk series.  A series designed to educate and expand on the evolving trends in fleet technology relevant to fleets seeking to decarbonize their miles travelled.

If you missed this event and would like to see the slides follow this link.

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Biodiesel as a Heavy Duty Low CO2 Solution 768 1024 Star Oilco

Biodiesel as a Heavy Duty Low CO2 Solution

Save money with Low CO2 Biodiesel in your heavy duty fleet.

In Oregon the state ensures there is a cost associated with the CO2 intensity of a fuel.  This is why Biodiesel is consistently lower cost than petroleum Diesel fuels on the West Coast.  Get ahead of this curve and ensure your fleet benefits.


Why B99 Biodiesel was used in the past?

Prior to 2007 emission systems on modern diesels B99 Biodiesel was commonly used by fleets.  The fact that Biodiesel is a domestic, renewable and low CO2 fuel with a benign tail pipe emission made it popular.  B99 was the preferred fuel of dozens of fleets in the Pacific NW.  After the EPA requirements starting in 2007 which added particulate traps, SCR, their dosing systems, and the general complexity of these clean diesel systems on modern diesels, B99 became problematic.  Specifically the Tier 3 and Tier 4 diesel emission systems had a habit of choking on high blends of Biodiesel approaching B99.  This issue has been solved by Optimus Technologies Vector System.

Why B99 Biodiesel is the solution for Heavy Duty Diesel fleets seeking a Low CO2 solution today?

The Optimus Technologies Vector System provides the solution by enabling two tanks of fuel.  One tank dedicated to the diesel or R99 Renewable Diesel and the other tank dedicated to B100 or B99 pure Biodiesel. These systems optimize the systems of your modern Diesel fleet while also optimizing the performance and realities of the emission systems.

Star Oilco at the National Biodiesel Conference in Las Vegas

Mark Fitz, the President of Star Oilco, was invited to speak in front of a bunch of soy bean farmers on the subject of decarbonizing Heavy Duty diesel fleets.  Below is a walk through of his view on where diesel fleets can go to cut their CO2 emission in half or more today. NOTE: Mark Fitz’s portion begins at 18 minutes.

 

Please reach out to Star Oilco if you have further questions about using B99 or other blends of Biodiesel to reduce your fleet’s operating cost while cutting CO2 emissions in half.

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What is Heating Oil? 1024 512 Star Oilco

What is Heating Oil?

In the Pacific Northwest heating oil is diesel.

Star Po;cp Crest

New heating oil customers often ask us, “What is heating oil?” Heating oil is diesel fuel and there are several grades and types. For Star Oilco our standard heating oil product is a ultra low sulfur diesel with a 5% biodiesel blend in order to meet Oregon mandates for off-road diesel fuel. That way our heating oil trucks can also serve construction fueling, emergency back up generators, and other common off-road diesel uses.

Star Oilco has a simple Heating Oil FAQ available.

For full on fuel nerds though, check out this more in depth deeper technical dive below.  If we leave anything out please don’t hesitate to ask for those seeking a nerd-level understanding of heating oil, kerosene and bioheat.

There are three typically grades of heating oil you can order.

Number 1 Diesel

Number 1 diesel is also called Kerosene or Stove Oil. This fuel has a lighter specification than typical heating oil which enables it to burn better in a “pot burner” or wick heater. Kerosene has its own specification as the fuel used by wick heaters. Kerosene is typically Number 1 diesel but not all Number 1 diesel’s are kerosene due to the need to be taken up by a wick heater. Any biodiesel content in a kerosene product WILL NOT work in a wick kerosene heater. So be very aware of confirming that your kerosene has never come into any contact with a biodiesel blend of fuel.

Red Number 2 Diesel

Red dyed diesel also called Heating Oil, Dyed Diesel, Off-Road Diesel is the default heating oil fuel. The fuel is dyed red to denote no on-road fuel taxes are attached to it. When you call and ask for heating oil, this is the fuel you are requesting. Clear or Green Number 2 Diesel is the fuel sold at retail gas stations and truck stops. That fuel will also work in your furnace, you just are paying for on-road taxes attached to that fuel.

Bioheat or Biodiesel Heating Oil

“Bioheat” is a blend of biodiesel and petroleum diesel to make a lower emission and lower CO2 heating fuel.  Typically Bioheat is Number 2 Heating Oil with a 20% blend of biodiesel or higher in it. It is a drop-in fuel for your heating oil furnace. There is no change other than routine maintenance is required. It is a cleaner burning fuel with a significant drop in CO2 emissions associated with your heating oil fuel consumption.  If you would like more information on biodiesel as a heating oil you can follow this link.

B20 Biodiesel Heating oil provider

Where do heating oil companies get their fuel?

In the Portland, Oregon market, diesel is fungible. Everyone buys or is expected to mix their fuel from each other in some way. Primarily this is due to the Portland/Vancouver market receiving most of its fuel down the Kinder Morgan-operated Olympic Pipeline. Which means all the refiners transporting fuel are mixing their product in transit. Additionally, there are shared terminal locations, which also have co-mingled owned diesel products.

Every refiner is typically expecting to mix their diesel and gasoline products. The difference is in the care a vendor takes to filter the fuel, using additives and continuously check their fuel quality. If you are buying at the absolute lowest price possible, know that there is an incentive to skip any added value of quality assurance.

Star Oilco buys our diesel products from a variety of vendors. The source refiner typically being either BP, Shell, Marathon(formerly Tesoro), Phillip 66, or a number of other refiners.

Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington are not unique in in having fungible diesel and heating oil fuel specifications. Through its Pacific Operations unit, Kinder Morgan operates approximately 3,000 miles of refined products pipeline that serves Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington and Texas. With roots dating back to 1956, it is the largest products pipeline in the Western U.S., transporting more than one million barrels per day of gasoline, jet fuel and diesel fuel to our customers. The company-owned terminals also provide additional services, such as liquid petroleum product storage and loading facilities for delivery trucks.

The heating oil and biofuel blends Star Oilco sells its customers

Heating oil is essentially off-road diesel. You can legally use a higher sulfur content for boilers and heating systems than you can off-road equipment and back-up generators. Regardless, we sell the lowest sulfur fuel available and optimize our fuel to be as versatile to our customers as possible. Construction equipment, back up generators and a host of others systems use off-road diesel, as do heating oil systems. Star Oilco sells the same diesel fuel specification for all of our off-road uses.

We also blend this fuel with biodiesel for our customers that want higher blends of low CO2 biodiesel fuels and heating oil. Star Oilco carries nothing but ultra low sulfur diesel fuels. In fact, our minimum blend of biodiesel is a B5 biodiesel blend (5% biodiesel and 95% petroleum diesel) and we also offer B20 (20% biodiesel blend) and B99 (99% pure biodiesel) for our customers.

About Diesel Fuels Specifications 

In the United States, diesel fuel is controlled according the American Society for Testing and Materials Standard D975-97. This standard describes a limited number of properties that diesel fuels must meet. It should be noted that the requirements are all performance-based, meaning they do not mandate the composition of the fuel, only the specific performance related requirements demanded of a fuel for a diesel engine. The requirements of D975 are described below.

ASTM Specifications for Diesel Fuel Oils (D975)*

*More info on ASTM specifications

Diesel fuel is characterized in the United States by the ASTM standard D975, which identifies five grades of diesel fuel. We are only going to talk about the two most popular commercially diesel fuel used — No 1 and No. 2 diesel. The ASTM D975 standard is made up of a series of different tests that check the characteristic ranges of a fuel to confirm it is adequate to operate in your equipment.

In simple terms, they are checking for specific gravity, the vapor point (when it turns into a gas), the flash point (when it catches fire), the dirt content, water content (how much microscopic entrained water) and a host of other requirements diesel must meet in order to be legal to be sold for use in your engine.

Grade No. 1-D and Ultra-Low Sulfur 1-D:

This is a light distillate fuel for applications requiring a higher volatility fuel to accommodate rapidly fluctuating loads and speeds, as in light trucks and buses. The specification for this grade of diesel fuel overlaps with kerosene and jet fuel, and all three are commonly produced from the same base stock. One major use for No. 1-D diesel fuel is to blend with No. 2-D during winter to provide improved cold flow properties. Ultra-low sulfur fuel is required for on-highway use with sulfur level < 0.05%. 

Grade No. 2-D and Ultra-Low Sulfur 2-D:

This is a middle- or mid-grade distillate fuel for applications that do not require a high volatility fuel. Typical applications include high-speed engines that operate for sustained periods at high load. Ultra-low sulfur fuel is required for on-highway use with sulfur level < 0.05%.

Biodiesel Fuels for Heating Oil

Biodiesel is a renewable fuel produced from oil seed crops, used cooking oil, and/or animal fat waste. It is chemically similar to petroleum diesel, and is produced by combining the oil stock with catalysts and then heating it. Biodiesel is not the same as vegetable oil or SVO (straight vegetable oil) and can be used in any diesel engine.

Biodiesel and biodiesel blends significantly reduce tailpipe emissions, especially carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and particulates (black smoke). ASTM D975 standard, as of 2008, allowed up to 5 percent biodiesel to be blended into the fuel. This is the called B5 — the ‘B’ stands for biodiesel and 5 stands for up to 5 percent biodiesel.

B6 to B20 – ASTM D7467-17:

Diesel blends up to 20% and more than 6% are referred to as B20. Biodiesel is a cleaner burning fuel than petroleum diesel. Using biodiesel can help reduce the amount of harmful emissions released into the air. Emissions such as sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other compounds found in diesel exhaust. Read the ASTM D7467-17 standards.

B99 & B100 –  ASTM D6751-15ce1:

These are fuels made of up to 100% biodiesel. Due to environmental regulations, most retailers will carry a maximum of B99. The standards for B99 and B100 are identical. Unlike gasoline, biodiesel can gel at cold temperatures. This can cause stress on fuel pumps and fuel injection systems, or can clog filters or even become too thick to pump to the engine. B99 has a higher temperature gel rate – meaning that it begins to cloud and thicken at higher temperatures – than conventional diesel.

“The cloud point of soybean biodiesel is about 34°F (1°C), whereas the cloud point for No. 1 diesel is about – 40°F (-40°C) and for No. 2 diesel between -18°F (-28°C) and +20°F (-7°C).” (Biodiesel Cloud Point and Cold Weather Issues) The solutions for cold weather involve additives and lower blends to ensure continuous operations. Read the ASTM D6751-15ce1 standards.

FURTHER READING ON DIESEL FUEL:

For a question and answer format about heating oil please see: Every question Star Oilco has been asked about Heating Oil

Here is an article about: an In-depth look at Biodiesel as a heating fuel 

Read about Star Oilco’s approach to Fuel Quality Assurance: Star Oilco – Precision Fuel Management

Read about dealing with biological growth in your diesel tank: Bioguard Plus 6 biocide treatment for diesel

Get Chevron’s Technical Manual to Diesel Fuel (essentially an easy to read text book on diesel): Chevron’s Fuel Technical Review

Get a white paper from Donaldson Filtration on tier 4 engines and fuel cleanliness: Donaldson on Tier 4 Engine Fuel Contamination

Read more about Donaldson Desiccant Breathers for bulk diesel tanks: Why use a Donaldson Desiccant Breather for a bulk diesel storage tank.