Neste Renewable Diesel facts for kids

Neste Renewable Diesel is a special type of fuel. It used to be called NExBTL. This fuel is made by a Finnish company called Neste. It can be mixed with regular diesel fuel or used on its own. It works perfectly in diesel engines without any changes.

This fuel is made mostly from vegetable oils and waste animal fats. Even though its old name sounded like it came from whole plants (Biomass to Liquid), it actually uses oils and fats. The quality of Neste Renewable Diesel is just as good as other advanced synthetic diesel fuels.

How Neste Renewable Diesel is Made

Neste Renewable Diesel is made using a special process. This process takes plant oils, which are a type of fat called triglycerides, and turns them into simple chemicals called alkanes. It's like taking the oxygen out of the oil. This is why it's not like older types of biodiesel.

During the process, a part of the oil called glycerol is also changed into propane, which is a gas. This means there's no leftover glycerol. After removing the oxygen, the fuel is treated to make sure it works well in cold weather. This special treatment helps it stay clear and flowing, even when it's very cold outside. Because it's chemically similar to regular diesel, engines don't need any special changes to use it.

Where Neste Renewable Diesel is Produced

Neste started making this fuel in Porvoo, Finland. They opened two factories there in 2007 and 2009. Each factory can make about 0.2 million tons of fuel every year.

Later, they built two much larger factories. One opened in Singapore in 2010 and the other in Rotterdam in 2011. Each of these bigger factories can produce 0.8 million tons of fuel each year.

Helping the Environment: Less Pollution

Neste believes that using their renewable diesel can greatly reduce harmful gases that cause climate change. They estimate it cuts greenhouse gas emissions by 40 to 90 percent compared to regular diesel.

Because of how it's made, this renewable diesel is very pure. It doesn't have certain things found in regular diesel, like aromatics or sulfur. This helps make the air cleaner when it's burned.

Working in Cold Weather: Cloud Point

The "cloud point" is the temperature at which wax crystals start to form in fuel, making it cloudy. This can make it hard for fuel to flow in cold engines.

Neste Renewable Diesel can be made to have a very low cloud point, as cold as −40 °C (−40 °F). Regular diesel usually has a cloud point of about −30 °C (−22 °F). This means Neste Renewable Diesel is much better for use in very cold places. When it's mixed with regular diesel, it can help the whole fuel mixture work better in winter.

What Neste Renewable Diesel is Made From

Neste Renewable Diesel can be made from different things. These include palm oil, rapeseed oil, and even waste fats from the food industry.

In the past, a lot of the fuel was made from palm oil. However, Neste has been working to use less palm oil. By 2017, less than 20% of their fuel came from palm oil. They now use more reclaimed waste oils, like used cooking oil, animal fat, and fish fat. They also use oils from plants like camelina, jatropha, soy, and rapeseed. Using waste oils is even better for reducing greenhouse gases.

Some people worry about palm oil because growing it can lead to forests being cut down. This can release carbon into the air and harm the environment. Neste has joined a group called the Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). This group helps make sure palm oil is produced in a way that doesn't harm the environment. Neste tries to buy palm oil that is certified as sustainable.

Environmental groups like Greenpeace have raised concerns about palm oil. They argue that even certified palm oil might indirectly cause more forests to be cleared. They suggest that Neste should use local ingredients like rapeseed oil instead. Neste is always looking for new materials to make their fuel, including algae and other plant oils.

How Neste Renewable Diesel is Used

This special diesel is often mixed with regular diesel fuel. The European Union has rules that say a certain amount of fuel must come from renewable sources. This creates a market for fuels like Neste Renewable Diesel.

For example, in Helsinki, Finland, city buses used Neste Renewable Diesel in a three-year test. At first, they used a mix, then switched to 100% renewable diesel in 2008. The test was a big success! The buses had much less pollution, with particle emissions dropping by 30% and nitrogen oxide emissions by 10%. The fuel also worked great in winter. Since then, Helsinki buses have continued to use Neste Renewable Diesel.

Because Neste Renewable Diesel is very similar to regular diesel, it works well in all current diesel vehicles and in all kinds of weather. It doesn't have the problems that some older types of biodiesel had, like issues in cold weather or problems with engines.

Neste Renewable Diesel can be mixed with regular diesel in any amount. This is different from older biodiesels, which could only be mixed up to a certain percentage without causing engine problems. Because the European Union wants more renewable fuel, Neste Renewable Diesel is expected to be used a lot more in the future.

Even big car companies like Daimler Trucks and Daimler Buses recommend using Neste Renewable Diesel mixed with regular diesel.

See also

In Spanish: NExBTL para niños