Higher Blends of Biodiesel Can Help Accelerate Lower Lifecycle Carbon Intensity

This video is part of a series of webcasts that focuses on providing information on the role that biomass-based fuels have in helping companies work toward their lower carbon targets.

Dave Slade (DS), Chevron’s Chief Technologist, provides insights on the benefits of incorporating higher blends of biodiesel into your operations.

If your company is looking to quickly lower lifecycle carbon emissions in your fleet, you should consider using higher blends of biodiesel.

As companies consider long-term lower carbon fuel options, biodiesel is a good choice. Incorporating higher blends of biodiesel is one way to accelerate your lower carbon journey.

Q: When we talk about higher blends of biodiesel, what blend rates make sense?

DS: That’s a great question and the answer is: It depends on several factors.

Let’s start with talking about a 20% blend of biodiesel and petroleum diesel, commonly referred to as B20. While there are fleets that currently consider B20 to be a maximum blend level, we don’t see it that way. In fact, we have customers that have proven there is no real limitation on the amount of biodiesel that can be used.

As cold weather performance became important for biodiesel over time, producers have improved the quality of this fuel. Today, with the availability of high-quality biodiesel, fleets should consider looking at and feeling comfortable with blend rates beyond B20.

Q: Today’s high-quality biodiesel allows for safely blending above B20. What are other benefits of using higher blend rates?

DS: One of the benefits of using biodiesel in a modern diesel engine is that there is less particulate matter in the fuel than in petroleum diesel. When the amount of biodiesel increases in the fuel blend, there is a corresponding reduction of particulate matter going through the diesel particulate filter, which means fewer engine regenerations.

Watch the full webcast to learn more about incorporating higher blends.