Repsol, Bilbobus & Alsa Launch HVO Fuel Pilot in Spain
epsol, Bilbobus and Alsa have launched the first pilot project in Spain to use HVO, a net zero emissions fuel. Over the next four months, 12 buses in the fleet of Bilbobus, the Bilbao city bus line, will run on advanced residue-based biofuels. Alsa, a leading mobility company in Spain and one of Repsol's strategic partners, has joined this pilot project with its Bilbobus fleet as part of its innovation strategy. A key element of this strategy is focused on finding solutions that can lead to reducing the carbon footprint of the company’s operations. The project also reflects Alsa's commitment to leading the ecological transition toward zero-emissions fleets in Spain
HVO is an advanced biofuel that meets the European Union Renewable Energy Directive's requirements for certification as a sustainable fuel, and it is considered a net zero emissions fuel. HVO also complies with all the technical requirements to ensure its use in Bilbobus's diesel-powered vehicles without modifications. Bilbobus is operated by Alsa, Spain's largest motorcoach carrier line.
Net zero emissions fuel: From the perspective of life-cycle analysis, it is rigorously accurate to state that the CO2 emitted by vehicles combusting these fuels are compensated fully by the CO2 removed from the atmosphere by growing the vegetables whose residue is then used to obtain the advanced biofuels or waste-based circular fuels. Therefore, on the basis of this analysis, these fuels are considered as producing zero net emissions. Additionally, biomass is considered as such in the European CO2 Emissions Trading Directive 2003/87/EC and in the Spanish National Emissions Inventory (based on the guidelines of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change).
The project will contribute to saving approximately 300 tons of CO2 emissions during the time of the pilot phase. It aims to demonstrate that advanced residue-based biofuels offer part of the solution to reaching the sustainability objectives in road mobility by helping to diversify Spain's energy matrix. In this case, the more than 100,000 liters of fuel to be used in the project will be supplied by the Repsol Technology Lab.
Source - Strategic Research Institute