{"id":104644,"date":"2021-04-21T07:09:27","date_gmt":"2021-04-21T06:09:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crownoil.co.uk\/?p=104644"},"modified":"2025-05-07T12:55:16","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T11:55:16","slug":"how-renewable-fuels-can-help-achieve-net-zero","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crownoil.co.uk\/news\/how-renewable-fuels-can-help-achieve-net-zero\/","title":{"rendered":"How Renewable Fuels Can Help Achieve Net Zero Carbon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Renewable fuels such as HVO fuel have so far been overlooked in the government\u2019s plan to reduce harmful emissions to net-zero. We look at the drawbacks of some of the current sustainable routes being explored and delve into the benefits of switching to clean-burning, low-emission renewable fuels. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The UK government has pledged that by 2050, the amount of CO2 emitted by cars, industries and homes will be net zero \u2013 that means that for every tonne of CO2 produced, an equivalent amount must be extracted from the atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking its green ambitions further, in 2020 the government vowed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 68% of what they were in 1990 by 2030, as part of its commitment to the Paris Agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the first month of lockdown, the UK saw a 34% reduction in carbon emissions which suggests that eradicating greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 is more possible than ever. But with lockdown gradually being lifted, accomplishing this goal on a commercial level while meeting increasing energy demand requires full backing from the government to help restore the cleaner air seen during lockdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s more, a recent survey carried out by YouGov<\/a> has revealed that almost 25% of Brits are reluctant to change key behaviours to help tackle climate change. While there\u2019s an increasing awareness of climate issues, it\u2019s very much viewed as a problem for further afield, with 69% of those polled claiming they do not feel personally impacted by climate change.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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How does the UK plan to meet these ambitious targets?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On 18 November 2020, as part of the UK\u2019s strive to becoming a world leader in reducing carbon emissions, the prime minister revealed its Energy White Paper which includes the government\u2019s 10-point plan to fight climate change in anticipation of the UK holding the landmark COP26 climate conference. The strategy involves a \u201cgreen revolution\u201d which requires Britain to \u201clook ahead to a more prosperous, greener future\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current policies include zero emission vehicles, \u2018jet-zero aviation\u2019 and reducing emissions from both new and existing buildings. However, the plan has been criticised for not being robust enough to ensure the UK meets its bold target and omits the key role alternative fuels such as HVO fuel will play in achieving net zero.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Zero-emission vehicles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fossil fuel vehicle ban<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One route the government is taking to reduce emissions on the road is the ban on new petrol and diesel vehicle sales, which has been brought forward by 10 years to 2030. To help ensure the UK achieves this target, it has offered a \u00a32.8 billion package of measures to support industry and consumers in making the transition to cleaner vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, only 29% of those polled in the YouGov study<\/a> said they would be prepared to never drive a petrol or diesel car again. Only 50% of respondents supported the ban of the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s more, with an estimated 308.3 million passenger vehicles in use across Europe, of which 99% are diesel or petrol and boast an average lifespan of 12 years, this move is far from a complete solution.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Electric vehicles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Recent government announcements have signposted a move to electric vehicles (EVs) with the Department for Transport\u2019s Road to Zero paper focusing heavily on electrification as the most workable and recognised solution to reduce harmful emissions on our roads. However, they lack clear directive on how this is to be achieved which means air quality and climate change are being ineffectively challenged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whilst EVs certainly reduce emissions to zero at the tailpipe, a more detailed look at the reality has led to some doubt behind the drive of this move. The government\u2019s plans don\u2019t take into account the building of infrastructure and additional power generation capacity needed to increase the proliferation of charging points, which are no doubt powered by fossil diesel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given the urgency of the climate crisis, we cannot wait for fossil fuel vehicles to become extinct and for an increase in EVs to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Electric vehicles are not the sole answer and switching to renewable fuels such as HVO offers an easier and immediate solution.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Renewable fuels<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Until recently, the UK lacked a drop-in fuel that matched the performance attributes of diesel with green credentials. However, innovations in modern chemistry have identified a low-emission fossil fuel alternative that has superior operational performance over fossil diesel, with extensive benefits that support current infrastructure.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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HVO fuel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Liquid paraffinic fuels such as Crown HVO fuel<\/a> reduce emissions and improve local air quality immediately, without needing to invest in new machinery or retrofitting existing vehicles. These readily available alternative fuels are invaluable in reviving the UK\u2019s net-zero carbon journey, providing a technical and cost-effective stopgap while paving the way for longer-term developments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HVO fuel has been synthesised to tackle the environmental and performance inadequacies of early-generation biofuels and conventional fuels. This is due to its hydrogen-based production process instead of FAME biodiesel\u2019s esterification production method. The final result is a completely different paraffinic diesel product with low aromatic and naphthenic hydrocarbon content and zero sulphur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a drop-in fuel, Crown HVO fuel can be deployed within existing fleets, equipment and machinery with no changes to infrastructure or capital expenditure, removing cost barriers and enabling a pragmatic step towards decarbonisation quickly and efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although this cost-effective, practical solution appears to have been lost on the UK government, other European states such as Sweden recognise that climate and air quality improvement cannot rely on a \u201cone size fits all\u201d policy. They have instead adopted a multi-point strategy which includes the use of high content renewable fuels in addition to the development of the EV market.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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EVs vs HVO fuel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to the question of using electric vehicles or renewable fuels<\/a>, there are a few things to consider:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Electric Vehicles<\/strong><\/strong><\/td>HVO Fuel<\/strong><\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/thead>
High capital expenditure for new machinery \/ retrofitting vehicles<\/td>Drop-in diesel alternative so no need to modify existing engines or machinery – can simply deploy in existing fleets, equipment and machinery<\/td><\/tr>
High-cost barriers – requires time and money to build charging points and wait for new infrastructure<\/td>Readily available and can be used right away with no changes to engines or peripherals<\/td><\/tr>
High production emissions from less optimised EV production routes, battery production and relatively high greenhouse gas emissions from UK electricity production<\/td>Reduces up to 90% of greenhouse gas CO2 emissions immediately<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The facts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Data published by BEIS (Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy) proves that it will take the National Grid until 2041 to reduce grid emissions to this level and until at least 2050 to be 100% carbon neutral; all of which is predicated on significantly increasing renewable electricity generation and ultimately, nuclear power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cAccelerating Road Transport Decarbonisation\u201d report by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers also questions the government\u2019s electrification strategy, specifically the effectiveness of EVs at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A key element of the report is the life cycle analysis comparison of traditional fuel technologies vs several \u201clow emission\u201d technologies, including renewable liquid fuels, LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas), PHEV (Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) and FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It concludes that current technology that runs on renewable liquid fuels outperforms new electric technologies in all instances from a greenhouse gas emission perspective. This is due to several factors, including:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n