Renewable Diesel (HVO)
Up to 90% lower CO₂. No modifications.
No change to your service schedule.
Approved for every Volvo Penta diesel engine.
Renewable diesel — also called HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) or R99 — is a drop-in replacement for petroleum diesel. Fill your tank with it, blend it with the diesel already on board, or switch back to conventional diesel whenever you need to. Your engine won’t know the difference, but the air will.
What is renewable diesel?
Renewable diesel is a second-generation biofuel made from vegetable oils, animal fats, and low-quality waste feedstocks. Those materials are hydrotreated — the same refinery process used to remove sulfur from petroleum diesel — which strips out all the oxygen and leaves pure hydrocarbons. The result is chemically the same as petroleum diesel and meets the same ASTM D975 specification, with a few superior qualities:
Because the CO₂ released in combustion was absorbed from the atmosphere by the plants and fats used to make the fuel, renewable diesel cuts lifecycle CO₂ emissions by up to 90% depending on feedstock. It also reduces NOx and particulate matter at the tailpipe.
Renewable diesel is not biodiesel
These two get confused constantly, and the difference matters for your engine. Biodiesel (FAME, ASTM D6751) is made by a different process, keeps oxygen in the fuel molecule, and comes with real drawbacks: it can degrade seals, hoses, and O-rings in older fuel systems, attracts water, gels in cold weather, promotes microbial growth, and can raise NOx under load. Most engine and fuel-injection manufacturers cap biodiesel at a 5% blend.
Renewable diesel has none of those problems. It stores, pumps, and burns like petroleum diesel — which is why it’s the fuel CARB requires, and biodiesel is not.
Approved by Volvo Penta — and tested at the factory
All Volvo Penta diesel engines have been approved for HVO since 2016. Volvo Penta has run renewable diesel as its standard fuel for endurance and performance testing at its Gothenburg facility since 2021. Switching requires no preparation, no engine modification, and has no effect on service intervals or warranty.
Cummins, Yanmar, MTU, and other major manufacturers also approve renewable diesel in their engines. If you’re running MAN engines, ask us — we can confirm approval for your specific model.
California commercial harbor craft: this is now a requirement
If you operate a commercial diesel-powered vessel in Regulated California Waters, the California Air Resources Board requires you to run exclusively on renewable diesel at R99 or R100 concentration. The requirement has been in effect since January 1, 2023.
Who it covers
Ferries, tugboats, crew and supply vessels, barges, dredges, excursion vessels, workboats, and other commercial harbor craft operating in California harbors, ports, and navigable waterways.
What the fuel must be
A non-petroleum transportation fuel meeting ASTM D975, with a flashpoint of 140°F or higher to satisfy U.S. Coast Guard safety rules. Biodiesel cannot be used or blended to meet the requirement.
Exemptions and records
Temporary exemptions exist for vessels fueling out of non-California ports where renewable diesel isn’t available, and for operators with pre-existing fuel contracts that can’t be modified. Either way, purchase and fuel-unavailability records must be kept for three years.
This fuel requirement runs alongside CARB’s broader Commercial Harbor Craft Regulation, which sets engine tier and diesel particulate filter standards on a rolling schedule. HMS can help you understand where your fleet stands on both.
Where to get Renewable Diesel in the Bay Area
Renewable diesel is produced domestically by Valero, Phillips 66, Chevron, Neste, and others, and availability at Bay Area fuel docks keeps growing. Clipper Yacht Harbor in Sausalito has been pumping renewable diesel since 2022. Contact us for current fuel dock options near you.
Frequently asked questions
If you operate a commercial diesel-powered vessel in Regulated California Waters, the California Air Resources Board requires you to run exclusively on renewable diesel at R99 or R100 concentration. The requirement has been in effect since January 1, 2023.
Helmut’s Marine Service
Whether you’re a weekend boater who wants a cleaner wake or a commercial operator working through CARB compliance, we can help you make the switch.
Helmut’s Marine Service is a Volvo Penta Power Center and factory-authorized Volvo Penta distributor for the Southwest · Authorized MAN Engines dealer
