Is HVO the same as biodiesel?

No. Biodiesel is a mono-alkyl ester made by transesterification. Renewable diesel is hydrotreated to be chemically the same as petroleum diesel, which is why it can be blended in any amount.

Can trucks run on 100% HVO?

Renewable diesel meets the US diesel specification, ASTM D975, and the European paraffinic diesel standard, EN 15940 — but not EN 590's minimum density, so check that the engine maker approves EN 15940 fuel.

How much CO2 does HVO save?

DOE puts the average cut in carbon intensity at 65%. It depends on the feedstock: CARB's used-cooking-oil example is 23 g CO2e per MJ against 105.76 for California diesel, and the EU default saving for waste-cooking-oil HVO is 83%.

Term

Renewable diesel (HVO)

Renewable diesel, often called HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil), is diesel made from fats and oils and processed to be chemically the same as fossil diesel, so it can replace it outright or blend in any amount. It is not biodiesel. The US Department of Energy says it cuts carbon intensity by 65% on average.

Also called HVO, hydrotreated vegetable oil, HVO100, renewable diesel fuel, paraffinic dieselUpdated 13 October 2026

Renewable diesel against biodiesel

	Renewable diesel (HVO)	Biodiesel
What it is	Fats and oils processed to be chemically the same as petroleum diesel	A mono-alkyl ester, made by transesterification
Specification	Meets ASTM D975 and EN 15940, but not EN 590's minimum density	Meets ASTM D6751
Use	Replacement fuel, or blended with diesel in any amount	Approved for blending with petroleum diesel

US DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center

Carbon intensity, compared

Fuel	Figure	Source
Fossil diesel (ULSD), California	105.76	CARB Low Carbon Fuel Standard, 2025
Renewable diesel from used cooking oil, CARB's illustration	23	CARB, November 2025
Fossil fuel comparator, EU	94	EU Renewable Energy Directive
HVO from waste cooking oil, EU default saving	83% (typical 87%)	EU Renewable Energy Directive
HVO from animal fats from rendering, EU default saving	77% (typical 83%)	EU Renewable Energy Directive

Lifecycle carbon intensity, g CO2e per MJ

Worked example: 10,000 litres

10,000 L × 34 MJ per litre = 340,000 MJ · as fossil diesel at 105.76 g/MJ → 35.96 t CO2e · as used-cooking-oil renewable diesel at 23 g/MJ → 7.82 t · saving 28.1 t, 78%

Energy per litre from the EU Renewable Energy Directive (HVO 34 MJ, diesel 36 MJ); carbon intensities from CARB. A litre of HVO holds less energy, so replacing 10,000 L of diesel takes about 10,600 L of HVO.

US use reached 3,671 million gallons in 2024, 3,194 million of it produced domestically, on DOE data, and nearly all of it is used in California because of the economic benefits under its Low Carbon Fuel Standard. DOE's California survey for April 2026 put renewable diesel at $7.50 against $7.42 for diesel, per diesel gallon equivalent.

The mistake people make

Treating every HVO as the same fuel. Its carbon intensity depends on what it was made from — the EU's default saving is 83% from waste cooking oil but 77% from rendered animal fats — so an emissions claim needs the feedstock and the sustainability certificate, not just the name on the pump.

FAQ