Field tests with HVO in Belgium
HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) is a paraffinic and carbon-neutral fuel. The feedstock for this product is vegetable oil, waste fats, and waste oils. HVO is used in various sectors, including domestic heating, in different EU countries. In Belgium, however, it is currently only available for use in the transportation sector.
Therefore, In4fuels, the leading information source on sustainable fuels for heating, off-road and transport applications in Belgium, decided to take the lead and to disclose the application of this climate-friendly fuel for heating purposes. To demonstrate this, a field test was set up with a mix of 80% heating oil and 20% HVO. The objective was to monitor the technical performance of this low-carbon fuel in a standard heating installation of a dwelling.
To carry out the test, In4fuels established a collaboration with Dejap, a local oil distributor importing HVO in Belgium, and Testo Belgium, a distributor of measuring instruments and systems, to assess the technical performance of the boiler.
The test began in February 2020 and was conducted on a low-temperature oil boiler (ACV) used for central heating and domestic hot water. The tank was filled with 2400 litres of the mixed standard heating oil and HVO. HVO is a drop-in fuel, which means it can be mixed in any ratio with standard heating oil. The technicians did not modify any parameter of the boiler to be able to perfectly compare the performance of the mixed fuel with the standard heating oil in the heating installation.
Belgium
Outcome
The pilot plant operating on the mixture of heating oil and HVO is running without any problem. After the consumption of 2.400 liters of the mixture, not a single problem occurred. Gas flue measurements also indicated that the boiler performs perfectly in accordance with the local environmental legislation.
The Belgian test proves that a mix of HVO and standard fuel is compatible with existing boilers and shows it is a promising solution to decarbonize heating with liquid fuels.