GD+HVO really is a game-changer

HVO fuels are net zero game-changers for industries saddled with hard-to-abate emissions. The construction, off-road, freight, and maritime sectors (the list goes on), are all still heavily reliant on diesel-burning assets and would struggle to reduce their carbon and air pollution emissions without the immediate, drop-in solution that is HVO fuel.

Without replacing any hardware or modifying any machinery, GBF’s own GD+HVO slashes carbon emissions by up to 90% (greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by 2.82kg of carbon dioxide equivalent for every litre of fossilderived diesel fuel replaced by GD+HVO). In addition, tailpipe emissions are also reduced; particulates are cut by up to 85% and NOx by up to 30% when compared with fossil diesel. Besides meeting the clean burning paraffinic fuel specifications EN15940, and the US and Japanese diesel fuel standards, ASTM D975 and JIS K2204, GD+HVO is the least carbonemitting diesel-replacement fuel available in the UK.

GD+HVO is manufactured using only waste and residue-derived raw materials which are considered advanced/2nd generation biofuel feedstock by the UK’s RTFO and EU’s REDII legislation. This is consistent with European Waste-to-Advanced Biofuels Association (EWABA) recommendations, which stipulate that only waste and residue-derived oils are used. Every stage of the production process is inspected, verified, and certified by the ISCC which provides complete transparency throughout the supply chain whilst tracking the sustainability characteristics of the fuel. GBF subsequently issues quarterly renewable fuel declarations to our customers certifying the feedstock provenance and the ISCCapproved sustainability characteristics of the fuel.

We consider GD+HVO to be a transitionary technology. Where economic barriers exist, uptake is often slow. Transitionary technologies offer more immediate and less costly low-carbon solutions to the net zero challenge, helping to bridge the gap between taking little-to-no action at all and achieving decarbonisation at scale. Furthermore, unlike other HVO products on the UK market, GD+HVO is made from 100% renewable feedstocks as opposed to being blended or ‘co-processed’ with fossil fuels –effectively reducing the GHG emissions savings.

EVs, hydrogen fuel cells and other zero-carbon technologies will eventually come good – the impetus behind them cannot be denied – but the stark reality, exposed in part by the bracing economic headwinds of 2023, is that there are very few workable alternatives to cleanburning, advanced biogenic derived fuels such as HVO today for a host of vital industries if they are to make progress in meaningfully cutting emissions.

We see businesses of all sizes across the UK and Ireland take their emissions responsibilities seriously by making the switch to GD+HVO. Over the last two years, we have supplied more than 200 million litres of it. So strong has the demand been in Ireland that 12 months ago we invested around �30 million in acquiring and transforming a chemical storage facility into an international biofuel terminal in Cork Harbour.

The new terminal, officially launched last month, can store up to 54 million litres of GD+HVO, a volume equivalent to as much as 25% of Ireland’s total consumption of all biodiesels in 2021 (circa 200 million litres). Distributed by our partners in Ireland, like Certa, Irish industries now have access to a more than sufficient supply of HVO to make concerted progress toward net zero in the short to medium term.

We were already the go-to HVO fuel provider for the delivery fleets of several householdname brands and we have fuelled several flagship construction projects, such as HS2, by supplying customers like Skanska. But this year, we have been proud to provide fuel to some major events across the country, including the BBC’s TV broadcast news vehicles used in reporting on both the King’s coronation and the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest.

Our growth has accelerated rapidly over the last few years, earning the accolade of being the 7th fastest-growing company in the UK, according to the Sunday Times. We even attracted the attention of some energy majors taking action to exceed their netzero goals. In February 2022, BP acquired a 30% stake in the business, supporting the expansion of its global biofuels strategy aimed at industrial sectors. We also launched a co-branded product with Shell, called GD45 Powered by Shell GTL Fuel, a highperformance formula consisting of 55% Shell GTL (gas to liquids) Fuel and 45% GD+HVO. Looking ahead, we are particularly committed to working together with the maritime transportation industry. With few alternatives to the heavy diesel oil used to power ships, maritime transportation accounts for about 3% of global emissions. The UN’s International Maritime Organization met in London in July for talks on how best to achieve decarbonisation.

Historically, shipping has been slow to take up emissions-cutting technologies, but research suggests that concerted action could cut the industry’s emissions by as much as half this decade. One advantage GD+HVO has over some other low-to-zerocarbon alternatives is it maintains it’s starting performance in temperatures as low as -15oC, a reliable option for the maritime sector.

Amid the well-worn debate over the origin of the current economic travails, much has been written recently about the costs associated with attaining net zero on target. Battery technology and, in particular, EVs have been under the spotlight as production capacity, demand, and even environmental impact are scrutinised. What’s more, the pace of development and even the possibility of electrifying long-distance HGVs and agricultural and plant machinery still seem a long way off. And so, doing the right thing in the present will mean diesel engine-reliant industries continuing to ramp up their use of low-cost, clean-burning, immediately available GD+HVO fuel.

It really is a game-changer.