Vibra Energia and Petrobras teamed up to test the new renewable diesel in Paraná, which can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 70%. The new fuel will have 15% renewable content

Three bus lines that are operated by Auto Viação Redentor, in Curitiba, Paraná, will begin the first tests with the new Diesel R5, with 5% renewable content next month. The new fuel is being generated on an experimental basis at the Getúlio Vargas Refinery (REPAR). In this testing phase, the buses will run on renewable diesel for six months and, during this period, Vibra Energia and Petrobras will supply around 120 m³ of diesel for vehicles in the municipality of Paraná, with the aim of assessing its influence in reducing emissions, performance and maintenance in real situations.

Read other related news

• Even though the pre-salt layer has the largest natural gas reserves in the world, Petrobras will double imports of LNG due to lack of infrastructure in Brazil
• CBMM invests BRL 72 million in a startup that develops advanced materials for lithium-ion batteries
• Banco do Brasil becomes a partner and sponsor of the Águas Brasileiras Program
• Alcântara Port Terminal will be a giant in the Arco Norte export business
• Handled volume of cargo at the Port of Santos grows 7,3% in November

Renewable diesel or improved fossil fuel? Understand!

Green diesel is generated by co-processing animal fat or vegetable oils with petroleum diesel oil. The fuel leaves the refinery with 5% renewable diesel, which is also known as green diesel, and the rest mineral diesel.

Vibra Energia will make the mandatory addition of 10% biodiesel ester and deliver the final product to consumers with 15% sustainable content. Preliminary studies indicate that renewable diesel, which will be tested by Petrobras and Vibra Energia in Paraná, reduces around 70% of polluting gas emissions compared to mineral diesel, which is derived from petroleum.

Green diesel is an advanced biofuel, chemically equal to mineral diesel, but produced from more sustainable sources, such as vegetable oils, animal fats and even used cooking oil.

Renewable diesel is widely used in the US and Europe

The fuel that will be tested by Vibra Energia and Petrobras in Paraná can be manufactured in units dedicated to co-processing in hydrotreatment units for vegetable oils, such as petroleum diesel.

Although it is not yet used industrially in the country, this technology that will be tested in Paraná is widely used in Europe and the USA, since it is a more affordable and faster way to introduce renewable diesel in the market, considering that it uses the existing industrial units in oil refineries.

CNPE may consider renewable diesel in the mandatory biofuel content in diesel oil

Currently, the National Energy Policy Council (CNPE) is discussing the possibility of renewable diesel, which is produced in co-processing units or dedicated units, also being considered in the mandatory biofuel content in diesel oil.

If accepted, the introduction of the fuel, which will be tested by Vibra Energia and Petrobras in Paraná, could generate advantages for consumers, insofar as the use of green diesel, more modern, enables the use of higher levels of renewables in new diesel engines.

In addition, it will provide greater competition among biofuels for diesel engines. Competition encourages quality improvement and cost reduction for both products, green diesel and ester biodiesel.