Inpex, Sanyu Energy collaborate on renewable diesel use in Japan

Inpex Corp. and Sanyu Energy Co. Ltd. have launched a collaboration on the use of renewable diesel in the Kansai region of Japan.

Sanyu Energy will supply renewable diesel procured by Inpex to Sanyu Rec. Ltd. and Sanyu Gikou Co. Ltd.

Sanyu Energy, Sanyu Rec. and Sanyu Gikou are group companies under the umbrella of Sanyu Holdings Co. Ltd.

Sanyu Rec. will use the renewable diesel to fuel its employee shuttle bus that operates between Takatsuki Station in Takatsuki City, Osaka Prefecture, and its factory.

Sanyu Gikou will introduce the renewable diesel to power trucks used for customer deliveries and inter-factory shipments.

This is the first case in which renewable diesel-powered vehicles operate on public roads in the Kansai region, as Sanyu Rec. and Sanyu Gikou aim to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions (GHG) in the region.

The renewable diesel was procured by Itochu Corp. from Finland-based Neste Corp., and supplied by Itochu Enex Co. Ltd. to Inpex.

In 2022, Itochu and Inpex announced a collaboration on a renewable fuel business in the transportation field.

Renewable diesel is fully compatible with all diesel engines and is a proven solution for the decarbonization for trucks and buses.

It is a drop-in fuel and does not require modification of existing vehicles or fueling-related facilities.

Renewable diesel is already commonly used mainly in Europe and in the United States.

As a next-generation renewable fuel that can minimize introductory costs associated with decarbonization measures and contribute significantly to the reduction of GHG emissions, renewable diesel is expected to be more widely utilized in the land-transportation field.