Fri 23 Dec 2016, 10:54 GMT

Neste's renewable diesel technology wins award


Supplier's renewable diesel can be produced from nearly any waste fat or vegetable oil.



Finnish firm Neste has been selected as the leading biofuel operator at the 2016 Global Energy Awards. The company was chosen ahead of six other finalists.

The panel of judges was said to have been impressed by the company's NEXBTL Renewable Diesel technology - recently rebranded as Neste Renewable Diesel, which enables the production of renewable diesel and other renewable products from nearly any waste fat or vegetable oil through a hydrogen-based treatment.

Neste Renewable Diesel is classified as a hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), and, according to Neste, can be blended in any combination with fossil diesel.

The panel was also said to be particularly inspired by the company's plans to start production of renewable propane at its Rotterdam refinery by the end of 2016.

Neste won praise for its commitment to sustainability and for its search for new solutions in order to develop its operations. The company's plan to increase biodiesel production capacity beyond the current annual volume of two million tonnes was also met positively by the judges.

The Global Energy Awards are now in their 18th year. The award ceremony took place in New York on 8th December.

Last month, the government of Finland confirmed that it plans to increase the percentage of biofuels blended in transportation fuel to 30 percent by 2030 in order to meet the country's emission reduction targets.

In June, Bunker Index reported that Neste had provided the Scripps Institute of Oceanography at the University of California with a a supply of NEXBTL Renewable Diesel during a year-long project that tested biofuel on the research vessel Robert Gordon Sproul.


Sea Horizon vessel. Pinnacle Marine launches second B100-compatible harbour craft for Les Star  

Sea Horizon joins Singapore’s harbour craft fleet.

Ocean Breeze vessel. Sallaum Lines orders LNG-fuelled, ammonia-ready PCTCs from Chinese yards  

Operator signs shipbuilding agreements for new generation of 8,600-CEU vessels, taking its newbuild investment past $1bn.

Energy North vessel. Nakilat takes delivery of dual-fuel carrier in South Korea  

Ammonia-ready design positions vessel to play key role in future low-carbon energy supply chains, says Qatari firm.

Acta Hercules naming ceremony. Acta Marine christens methanol dual-fuel vessel Acta Hercules in IJmuiden  

Dutch operator marks the christening of its second newbuild CSOV.

Maran Melina vessel. Angelicoussis Group takes delivery of fifth dual-fuel Suezmax tanker  

Maran Tankers Management adds the 155,500-DWT Maran Melina to its fleet.

CMA CGM Orsay naming ceremony. CMA CGM takes delivery of LNG-powered Orsay for Asia-Europe trade  

24,212-TEU vessel joins 10-ship series, adding capacity to the carrier's FAL3 route.

Titan Unikum vessel. Titan Clean Fuels completes 15-year survey on LNG bunkering vessel Titan Unikum  

Multi-gas carrier has undergone dry-docking work at a Chinese yard, preparing it for future upgrades.

Aesen 116H vessel. Lehmann Marine’s CUBE battery system debuts in China aboard hybrid crew boat  

German battery maker’s first Chinese installation targets fuel savings on a Cheoy Lee-built vessel for a Singapore operator.

Person signing a document. Iino Lines secures transition loan from Mizuho Bank for LPG dual-fuel VLGC  

Japanese shipowner finances the acquisition of Lumi Aurora through a green transition finance framework aligned with ICMA guidelines.

ABS, HD KSOE and Siemens MoU signing. ABS, HD KSOE and Siemens partner on digital twin technology for ammonia-fuelled ship safety  

Three firms will combine CFD analysis and digital twin technology to assess ammonia leak scenarios in vessel design.