Biofuels: The Future Of Sustainable Transport?

• Businesses that delay switching to biofuels risk rising costs and regulatory penalties.
• CFP Energy urges wider adoption across public transport, construction, marine, and aviation.
• HVO is a drop-in solution that cuts carbon emissions without costly infrastructure changes.

With businesses facing increasing pressure to transition to cleaner energy sources, biofuels, particularly Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), are emerging as a crucial alternative to fossil fuels.

The recent investment by the RAF and several local councils in renewable diesel marks a significant step forward in the UK’s transition to sustainable fuel solutions, highlighting growing momentum and cross-sector commitment to achieving net-zero. While this initiative is a step forward, the potential of biofuels extends far beyond retail logistics.

CFP Energy is calling for accelerated adoption across key industries, including public transport, construction, marine, and aviation.

As carbon regulations tighten year after year, businesses that delay the transition to biofuels risk higher costs and operational challenges.

"This is a pivotal moment for large-scale organisations across Europe and the UK," says Bjorn Breckx, HVO Specialist at CFP Energy. "As carbon regulations continue to evolve, businesses will soon have no choice but to transition to biofuels like HVO. The sooner they start, the smoother and more cost-effective the transition will be.” 

“CFP Energy currently supplies one of Europe's largest cosmetics businesses with biofuels.

Its largest manufacturing facility uses biofuels to power its processes and a massive reduction in emissions has been achieved. Businesses and governments alike need to wake up to the reality that solutions exist, it's just a matter of embracing them. Net Zero isn't a pipe-dream, it's incredibly complex and hard to achieve, but not impossible.”

Biofuels: A Scalable, Sustainable Energy Solution

Biofuels offer an efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels. By repurposing organic waste into renewable energy, businesses can significantly reduce reliance on traditional fuels and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

The RAF’s initiative demonstrates how renewable diesel can play a critical role in decarbonising transport, offering a low-emission alternative to traditional fuels and advancing the UK’s net-zero ambitions.

A recent study conducted in Bilbao, Spain, reinforced HVO’s benefits in public transport, demonstrating lower CO₂ emissions and improved fuel efficiency compared to fossil diesel. Unlike electrification, which requires costly infrastructure investments, HVO is a drop-in fuel that can immediately reduce emissions without requiring modifications to existing diesel engines.

“The registered CO₂ emissions and calculated mass, volumetric and energy fuel consumptions were lower when using the renewable fuel, despite the lower volumetric heating value compared to fossil diesel fuel, which is partly attributed to the lower EGR rate with renewable fuel that leads to a higher energy efficiency.

Additionally, CO and THC emissions coming from the combustion process of renewable fuel are lower than those of fossil fuel, given the paraffinic structure of renewable fuel that favours a cleaner combustion.” (Performance and regulated emissions from a Euro VI-D hybrid bus tested with fossil and renewable (hydrotreated vegetable oil) diesel fuels under urban driving in Bilbao city, Spain).” ¹ explains Breckx, referencing the study conducted in Bilbao.

CFP Energy Urges Wider Biofuel Adoption to Drive Emission Reductions and Boost Energy Security

While the retail and transport industries have made significant strides in biofuel adoption, other sectors lag behind. CFP Energy believes that expanding the use of biofuels could drive down emissions across multiple industries, offering:

• Reduced carbon footprint – Biofuels significantly cut CO₂ emissions compared to fossil fuels, supporting the UK’s net-zero targets.
• Waste reduction – Converting organic waste into fuel helps mitigate landfill use and methane emissions.
• Energy security – A diversified energy mix reduces reliance on imported fossil fuels, enhancing stability in the energy market.
• Regulatory and cost benefits – As governments push for stricter emissions targets, early adopters of biofuels could benefit from incentives and tax reliefs.

However, CFP Energy emphasises that greater industry-wide demand is essential to scale supply infrastructure and reduce long-term costs.

“To unlock the full potential of biofuels, we need stronger demand signals across all sectors,” says Bjorn Breckx, HVO Specialist at CFP Energy. “When industries collectively push for cleaner alternatives, it creates the necessary pressure on governments and market players to support supply growth and policy evolution.”

Biofuels Revolutionising Industries: From City Buses to Airlines, Sectors Embrace Sustainable Fuel Solutions

While organisations like the RAF and local councils are now investing in renewable diesel for their fleets, other sectors stand to benefit just as much from adopting low-emission fuel alternatives:

• Public Transport: Cities like London are already using HVO for buses, reducing air pollution and meeting emission targets.
• Logistics & Commercial Fleets: Major retailers and delivery services, such as UPS, have adopted HVO to cut their carbon footprint.
• Construction & Agriculture: Heavy-duty machinery can seamlessly transition to biofuels, reducing emissions without compromising performance.
• Marine & Aviation: While aviation remains largely dependent on kerosene, HVO is being explored as a sustainable fuel for short-haul flights and marine vessels.

Supporting Businesses in the Shift to Sustainable Fuel

As a leading biofuel supplier in Europe, CFP Energy provides businesses with HVO fuel solutions to help them meet sustainability goals without disrupting operations. From sourcing to implementation, CFP Energy ensures a seamless transition, allowing businesses to maintain efficiency while reducing environmental impact.

“The success of RAF and Dorset Council’s biofuel initiative demonstrates that sustainable fuel alternatives are not just theoretical, they are practical and commercially viable,” says Bjorn Breckx, Director of Biofuels at CFP Energy. “The challenge now is expanding adoption beyond retail and logistics. If more industries embrace biofuels, we can accelerate progress towards a greener, more resilient energy future.”

The Path Forward

As sustainability targets tighten and businesses seek credible ways to reduce emissions, biofuels offer an immediate and effective solution. CFP Energy encourages companies across all sectors to explore how biofuel integration can align with their sustainability goals while driving operational efficiency.

With proven benefits and increasing regulatory support, the time for wider biofuel adoption is now. But to truly accelerate progress, industry bodies must take the lead in creating demand and calling for greater production and distribution capabilities.

Without strong, government-led support to drive this shift, many businesses will be reluctant to take the plunge. CFP Energy stands ready to support organisations in making the transition towards a cleaner, more sustainable future, because the solutions are already here; it’s just a matter of scale and commitment.

References:

^{1 https://biofuels-news.com/news/royal-air-force-trials-hvo-in-support-vehicles}

^{2 https://uk.news.yahoo.com/dorset-council-replace-diesel-vegetable-020000112.html}

^{3 https://newsroom.fedex.com/newsroom/europe-english/fedex-announces-switch-from-diesel-to-hvo-to-reduce-linehaul-emissions-in-uk}