Fuel made from used vegetable oil is also to become more widely known for motorboats. The first petrol stations on Lake Constance are already offering the fuel known as “HVO” (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), which is made from French fry fat, for example. However, the industry still sees a lot of room for improvement, according to the Interboot water sports trade fair, which begins in Friedrichshafen on Wednesday. The trade fair on Lake Constance wants to increase the awareness of HVO with this year’s edition.
The climate-friendly fuel is still more of a niche product, explained Olaf Toedter from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology KIT, who plans to give a lecture on the subject at the Interboot. The existing infrastructure at the filling stations can be used without conversion. The synthetic fuel can be used in existing diesel engines without any problems. The new fuel made from hydrogen-treated old vegetable oils and grease residues reduces the CO2 emissions of diesel vehicles by around 90 percent.
Slightly more expensive
The fuel has been on the market outside of Germany for some time. In Germany, it has been freely available at petrol stations since May. Diesel is already available at around 700 pumps nationwide. It is suitable for all diesel engines, including motorboats.
Because it costs a little more, it is harder to advertise. “There are price differences of five to fifteen cents compared to conventional diesel.” Interboot said that government support in the form of tax relief could convince many users to use it. Manufacturers of the fuel will also be presenting their products at the trade fair until Sunday. A panel discussion on the topic of climate-neutral shipping on Lake Constance is also on the agenda. Last year, the trade fair attracted more than 41,000 visitors.
Criticism from environmental associations
The German Environmental Aid (DUH) is critical of the fuel, also known as “green diesel”. The use of agrofuels involves the “massive use” of fossil raw materials, fertilizers and pesticides and is therefore associated with an enormous burden on biodiversity and the climate, the organization recently announced. In April, the German Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union and the Environmental Aid organization criticized that the use of fuels made from so-called waste and residues in the new HVO100 fuel is associated with damage to the climate and biodiversity.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:240924-930-241445/1
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