We call HVO100: Shell Renewable Diesel
Up to 89 % less
life-cycle CO₂e emissions1 than B7,
up to 90 % less
life-cycle emissions than fossil diesel2
Shell Renewable Diesel (HVO100) is our paraffinic fuel made from renewable raw materials. It works in your existing diesel vehicles without modifications – helping you reduce CO₂e emissions by up to 89 %.¹
What is Shell Renewable Diesel?
Shell Renewable Diesel is a paraffinic fuel – also known as a drop-in fuel – that can be used immediately in all diesel engines without any modifications. It’s made from renewable feedstocks such as waste and residual oils and fats, which are hydrotreated in a catalytic process to create a high-quality paraffinic diesel.
That’s why it's also known as HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) or HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids). Unlike traditional biodiesel such as FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester), Shell Renewable Diesel contains no biodiesel, offering better compatibility with elastomers and improved storage stability.
Shell Renewable Diesel
Our advanced paraffinic fuel – extensively tested by experts at the Shell Technology Centre in Hamburg, Germany.
Your benefits of Shell Renewable Diesel
Cleaner combustion, reduced emissions: Shell Renewable Diesel can result in up to 89 % less life-cycle CO₂e emissions than market-average B7 diesel (BS EN 590 B7)1 and can result in up to 90 % less life-cycle emissions than fossil diesel.2
Provides cleaner combustion with less unwanted components such as sulphur, metals and aromatics compared to market average B7 diesel (BS EN 590 B7)
Reduces air pollutants in the exhaust gas of diesel engines3
With Shell Renewable Diesel, the refuelling process is shortened and a full tank refill is possible.7
Improved fuel storage perfomance helps reduce the risk of microbial growth
Improved engine start in cold climate conditions: Easier start-up of diesel engines at low temperatures4
Shell Renewable Diesel
Our advanced paraffinic fuel – extensively tested by experts at the Shell Technology Centre in Hamburg, Germany.
FAQ
Shell Renewable Diesel, also known as HVO or HEFA, is a paraffinic fuel that closely resembles conventional fossil-based diesel but is derived from biomass sources, including vegetable oils, animal fats and waste feedstocks. This results in a fuel with a lower carbon intensity compared to traditional fossil fuels. Shell Renewable Diesel serves as a high-quality alternative to fossil diesel or biodiesel, meeting the BS EN 15940 specification. Shell Renewable Diesel is designed to be used as a replacement drop-in fuel, but it can be blended into existing tanks of B0 or B7 if needed or desired.5
Shell Renewable Diesel is produced through hydrogenation (treatment with hydrogen) of biomass such as vegetable oils, animal fats and waste feedstocks. The hydrogenation process removes all oxygen from the feedstock, leaving purely oxygen-free paraffinic molecules chemically compatible to hydrocarbon fossil diesel but with the benefit of a lower carbon intensity. The production process is compliant with UK law.6
Renewable diesel is a paraffinic fuel produced through the hydrogenation of vegetables oils, animal fats and waste feedstocks. Biodiesel, often referred to as FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester), is derived from the same feedstocks as renewable diesel. However, biodiesel is produced through a different process called esterification, which involves treatment with methanol. Modifications must be made to the equipment to accommodate a 100 % biodiesel fuel. Biodiesel can be used in current diesel equipment if it is blended with a fossil or renewable diesel fuel. Biodiesel has a limited blend ratio. Beyond this blend ratio it goes out of specification to be compliant with OEM recommendations. This is known as the “blend wall”.
The BS EN 590 diesel fuel specification requires up to 7%, by volume, of biocontent. FAME is often blended into fossil diesel to create a product that meets the BS EN 590 specification and fulfills biomandates. As a result, the current market-average product is a B7 diesel (BS EN 590 B7).
The BS EN 15940 diesel fuel specification is designed for paraffinic fuels, such as renewable diesel. Products meeting BS EN 15940 specification may be used as a blending component within BS EN 590 specification
requirements. The lower density limit in the BS EN 590 versus the BS EN 15940 specification, means there is a technical blending limit for BS EN 15940 fuels that is reached at approximately 26 %.
1Life cycle greenhouse gas emission reductions are calculated based on renewable diesel with a maximum CI of 32.9 gCO2e/MJ, and minimum CI of 9.4 gCO2e/MJ compared to market-average B7 (average biofuel blend diesel) in the UK with a CI of 87.8 gCO2e/MJ (UK DEFRA emission factors 2023). The full life cycle assessment of a product’s green house gas emissions includes emissions associated with feedstock harvesting and production, feedstock transport, fuel production, fuel transportation and distribution as well as end use and/or combustion. CO2e (CO2 equivalent) refers to CO2, CH4, N2O.
2Life cycle greenhouse gas emission reductions are calculated based on renewable diesel with a maximum CI of 32.9 gCO2e/MJ, and minimum CI of 9.4 gCO2e/MJ compared to fossil diesel in the UK with a CI of 91.9 gCO2e/MJ (UK DEFRA emission factors 2023). The full life cycle assessment of a product’s green house gas emissions includes emissions associated with feedstock harvesting and production, feedstock transport, fuel production, fuel transportation and distribution as well as end use and/or combustion.
3Shell Renewable Diesel comes from accepted feedstocks under the RTFO, listed in the gov.uk website under “RTFO list of feedstocks including wastes and residues”: RTFO list of feedstocks including wastes and residues - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
4When switching from diesel. Based on Shell’s operability studies and market experience to date. Vehicle handbook and/or label at the fuel tank socket must be checked for OEM approval. Based on testing conducted on heavy duty vehicles.
5When switching from diesel. Based on Shell’s operability studies and market experience to date. Vehicle handbook and/or label at the fuel tank socket must be checked for OEM approval. Based on testing conducted on heavy duty vehicles.
6A “renewable transport fuel” as defined under Energy Act 2004 c. 20, s. 132 Interpretation of Chapter 5 of Part 2 and applied under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation Order 2007/3072 (as amended.) The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation Order (RTFO) regulates renewable fuels used for transport in the UK.
7Compared to a conventional diesel fuel with bio content (B7 according to DIN EN 590).