Decarbonisation is the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) output into the atmosphere through the adoption of low carbon energy sources. The ultimate goal of decarbonisation is to eliminate emissions produced by human activity.

Sustainable energy sources pose minimal risk to the environment and are infinite, in that they are renewable or can be replenished with relative ease.

Alternative fuels have been developed to reduce dependence on traditional fossil fuels, like petrol and diesel, and limit the impact on health and the environment. Rather than technologies like selective catalytic reduction (SCR) or fuel additives, which are designed to enhance the environmental performance of conventional diesel, alternative fuels seek more significant sustainability benefits through the use of greener energy sources, as well as production methods which result in cleaner emissions.

No matter what stage of your net-zero emissions journey businesses you are at, or what your unique fuel priorities might be, Certas Energy are here to support you every step of the way. Through comprehensive analysis of the full fuel value chain, our experts can offer bespoke advice and recommendations to help identify unique opportunities to reduce costs, emissions and inefficiencies. So, your business can retain its competitive edge, sustainably. Get in touch to kick-start your energy transition journey.

There is no single solution to overcome air quality issues and over-reliance on conventional fuels, but a wide-range of technologies are established – and emerging – that can support the transition to a low emission future. Readily-available alternative fuels can significantly – and instantly - reduce companies’ environmental impact and plug the net zero gap, without compromising operational performance. From helping to reduce harmful emissions, to making a lasting difference, we’ll guide you every step of the way, from now until 2050. Get in touch to get started.

Certas Energy offers drop-in high-performing diesel alternatives, including cleaner-burning, GTL Fuel (Gas-to-Liquid), as well as renewable diesel Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO).

Want to learn more about the future of fuels, today? Check out our Alternative Guide to Navigating the New Energy Mix.

Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) is a 100% biodegradable, drop-in diesel alternative made from vegetable fats and oils. Benefits include:  

• A reduction of up to 90% in greenhouse gas emissions, immediately
• No engine or infrastructure modifications needed  
• Renewable and sustainable 
• FAME- and fossil-free 
• Cleaner burning  
• Long shelf life 

Visit our HVO FAQ Guide for everything you need to know about HVO.

GTL Fuel is a diesel alternative that can be used seamlessly in on and off-road machinery and equipment. Simply drop in and go.  

Benefits include:   

• Reduction in Nitrogen Oxide (NO_x) and Particulate Matter (PM) emissions
• Non-toxic, biodegradable and less harmful to the environment 
• No engine or infrastructure modifications needed 
• Long shelf life 
• Reduced noise pollution 
• Improved cold start
• No odour
• Lower overall ‘hazard’
• Improved biodegradability
• Reduced costs and downtime due to few filter changes needed

Hear first-hand from the customers who have reduced their emissions by switching to GTL Fuel.

Alternative fuels do cost slightly more than conventional diesel but as demand and supply increases, the price difference will start to decrease. Given the withdrawal of red diesel allowances for many industries, alternative fuels are becoming more popular as a cleaner, compliant and convenient alternative to white diesel. They are also much cheaper to implement than other solutions, which require investment in infrastructure. 

As HVO and GTL Fuel are both drop-in diesel alternatives they can be used without any modifications to vehicles or engines. This limits disruption to business operations, allowing you to sustain high levels of productivity and avoid a time-consuming or onerous fuel transition.

The benefits of HVO and GTL Fuel extend beyond sustainability. They both have a naturally low cold filter plugging point (CFPP) to (-30 degrees and -20°C respectively) and offer a longer shelf life to conventional diesel; up to 10 years for HVO and up to five years for GTL Fuel. HVO also offers improved combustion and GTL Fuel has better cold start performance. As neither contain FAME, they are also avoid associated issues, such as machinery downtime caused by filter blockages and contamination.

Want to see GTL Fuel in action? Discover how the fuel helped a business drive down downtime in our case study 

Electrification is crucial in the energy mix of the future. However, there are current limitations preventing it from being a feasible long-term option for wide-scale commercial use, such as insufficient battery range and lack of infrastructure. Therefore, it is not a fully formed solution for a zero-emissions future at present. 

Yes. Both HVO and GTL Fuel are fully interchangeable with traditional diesel and can be mixed or blended at any percentage.

It is imperative to seek a transparent and trusted provider who can give full visibility of the fuel’s supply chain. This ensures your sustainability objectives are being met and that you can have confidence in  your carbon reduction claims. As the UK’s leading fuel and lubricants distributor, we take pride in providing solutions that you can rely on and trust. That’s why we go to great lengths to guarantee that Certas Energy HVO is ethically sourced, ecologically responsible, and exclusively manufactured from primary waste sources. We only partner with ISCC certified HVO suppliers, each one having a fully validated and auditable supply chain, so our HVO meets the highest auditable product standards possible.

Read our ethical supply chain blog which details where to go for your HVO.

Both HVO and GTL Fuel are drop-in alternatives. This means they can be used in vehicles or equipment designed for diesel, without any changes to the engine or infrastructure. Tanks also do not need to be drained, flushed or cleaned out.  As capital expenditure is not required, these fuels offer viable and accessible routes towards decarbonisation, without disruption or delay.