Refinery feedstock includes canola, algae, jatropha, salicornia, palm oil, tallow and soybeans.
Some commercial examples of vegetable oil refining are: Neste is the largest manufacturer, producing ca.
Fleets operating on Renewable Diesel from various refiners and feedstocks are reported to see lower emissions, reduced maintenance costs, and nearly identical experience when driving with this fuel.
Further demand for HVO would have to be met with crop-based virgin vegetable oils, but the diversion of vegetable oils from the food market into the biofuels sector has been linked to increased global food prices, and to global agricultural expansion and intensification.
This is associated with a variety of ecological and environmental implications; moreover, greenhouse gas emissions from land use change may in some circumstances negate or exceed any benefit from the displacement of fossil fuels.
[16] A 2022 study published by the International Council on Clean Transportation found that the anticipated scale-up of renewable diesel capacity in the U.S. would quickly exhaust the available supply of waste and residual oils, and increasingly rely on domestic and imported soy oil.
[17] The report also noted that increased U.S. renewable diesel production risked indirectly driving the expansion of palm oil cultivation in Southeast Asia, where the palm oil industry is still endemically associated with deforestation and peat destruction.
Introducing even minor amounts of biomaterial into a diesel hydrotreater has implications and potential risk factors.
[20] These acids can attack non-stainless steels in the preheat train, fired heater, piping, valves and reactors.
ULSD hydrotreating chemical hydrogen consumption is typically 300-600 scf/bbl of feed depending on the aromatic saturation required for cycle oils and other cracked feedstocks.
[22] Chemical consumption for HVO approaches 2,500 scf/bbl depending on the level of saturation of feedstock and the length of the carbon chains.
[24] A newbuild plant was constructed in 2010 Geismar, LA by the Syntroleum Corporation and its joint-venture partner Tyson Foods.
[28] Tyson sold its 50% ownership to Renewable Energy Group (now Chevron) and Syntroleum's stock was announced by the same buyer in 2013 with closing in 2014.