Change displaces 325,000 litres of conventional diesel and reduces CO2 emissions by approximately 750 tonnes.
Power generation equipment manufacturer Kohler Power Systems has switched from conventional diesel to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) to run engines at its headquarters and generator manufacturing plant in France.
While HVO had previously been used at the Brest site for small-scale development testing within laboratories, it is now available for all generator testing.
Kohler says the change means that 325,000 litres of conventional diesel that were previously burned at the site each year are now replaced with HVO, reducing CO2 emissions by approximately 750 tonnes.
“Taking into account all sources of carbon emissions, including lighting and heating, the shift to HVO has enabled the Brest plant to reduce its overall CO2 emissions by up to 50%,” said Lenaik Andrieux, General Manager of Kohler Power Systems for the EMEA region.
Kohler has secured a supply agreement from a major provider which keeps large amounts of HVO at a storage depot near the Brest site.
Typical tests at the Kohler site include a generator running for 24 or 72 hours, which uses significant amounts of fuel.
The company believes that this year, the shift to HVO on the site should create 78% lower emissions than it would have done using fossil diesel.
As well as reducing emissions balance of CO2, HVO emits less NOx, and fewer particulates than fossil diesel.
HVO is also more stable than fossil diesel, which helps Kohler ensure reliable test results, even if fuel has been in a tank for several months.
Landmark commercial e-methanol plant to be built in Denmark
HVO has no sensitivity to oxidation, can be stored long-term and is sourced entirely from waste products.
Kohler said the switch from fossil diesel to HVO was “quick and easy” and no modifications to previously installed generators were required.
Kohler manufactures engines and complete power systems, including generators, switchgear and monitoring controls.
