Lower “well-to-wheel” CO2 alternative to conventional diesel and a step towards alternative industrial fuels.**
What is Biodiesel
What is Biodiesel?
Biodiesel (or FAME) is a type of diesel fuel that is made from vegetable or animal oil rather than fossil crude oil. FAME stands for Fatty Acid Methyl Ester and is produced via a chemical transformation of vegetable oils (e.g. rapeseed, soy) into their corresponding esters. Until that transformation (called transesterification) takes place, cooking oils and other vegetable oils are simply the feedstock for biodiesel production.
As such they are unsuitable for use as fuels in modern diesel engines. Biodiesel can be used in neat form or as a blend component at different levels that can be used in many heavy-duty diesel engines.* Customers who use products with bio content in heavy duty vehicles, particularly at levels higher than 10%, need to be aware that some properties of biodiesel are different to those of conventional diesel. This warrants certain changes in the way fuels with higher bio concentrations are stored and handled.
*Vehicle manufacturers’ advice should be sought before running vehicles on neat biodiesel (or blends higher than the typical market level).
Terminology (B100/B5/BX)
- B100 = biodiesel in its pure form (100% FAME)
- For FAME blends with conventional diesel, the general term BX is used, where “X” refers to the volume percentage of biodiesel in the blend.
- B5 is 5% biodiesel and 95% diesel (common in Hong Kong)
- B7 is 7% biodiesel and 93% diesel (common in the East and Europe)
High product quality
High product quality for commercial fuels customers throughout the Supply Chain:
Before we Purchase
Shell only sources biodiesel from reliable suppliers. In Hong Kong, biodiesel (B100) is converted from locally collected waste cooking oil and grease trap oil as well as feedstocks imported from other countries. Product Quality is checked by an independent 3rd party laboratory.
Learn more about Shell’s approach to biofuels at www.shell.com/biofuels
Refinery
Fuels products that leave a Shell refinery are tested for compliance with relevant specifications to ensure fitness-for purpose.
Depot Storage
In Hong Kong, the Shell Tsing Yi depot is licensed by the HK Fire Services Department to store B100 and blend it into B5. Upon receipt, the depot checks its certificate of analysis as well as its density, conductivity and visual appearance before allowing the product to enter our tanks. Automated in-line blending ensures thorough commingling of biodiesel with regular diesel to ensure the correct mix ratio which is crucial to optimum engine performance.
Additional quality checks and best product housekeeping and management practices are used throughout the storage and blending process to ensure that at all stages the product remains in optimum condition.
Customer
Shell Commercial Fuels provides its customers with high quality fuels that are fit-for-purpose and meet relevant specifications. B5 customers benefit from professional fleet delivery, stringent loading & unloading procedures and further in-tank quality checks to ensure product meets specifications.
