Neste welcomes Italian government’s ambition to increase use of unblended biofuels

Renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) producer Neste Corp. said April 19 it welcomes the Italian government’s decision to introduce a mandate for increasing the use of neat (100 percent unblended) biofuels to further accelerate greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions reductions in the transport sector.

While the use of such renewable fuels is not new in Italy, their use in neat form without being blended with fossil fuels comes as a welcomed solution to support an already ambitious decarbonization roadmap for the transport sector.

Fuels produced 100% from renewable raw materials, such as Neste MY Renewable Diesel™, are a ready-to-go solution immediately available to decarbonize the existing fleet of both light- and heavy-duty vehicles in Europe and elsewhere, and are an essential piece of the sustainable-mobility puzzle.

“The ambition shown by the Italian government in boosting the use and production of fuels produced 100 percent from renewable raw materials and used without being blended with fossil fuels is a great example of how environmental and industrial policy can be reconciled,” said Peter Zonneveld, Neste’s vice president of sales for Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

Zonneveld continued, saying, “This change in domestic legislation makes Italy a frontrunner in fighting emissions from the transport sector. In fact, Italy is one of the first countries to introduce such a mandate for these types of fuels, matching the strong pro-renewable fuels stance the Italian government has been taking over the last years in the main international arenas, including the European Union and the G7.”

By using Neste MY Renewable Diesel™, made from 100 percent renewable raw materials, GHG emissions can be reduced by as much as 75 percent to 95 percent over the lifecycle of the fuel compared to fossil diesel.

Renewable diesel is fully compatible with all diesel engines and the existing fuel-distribution infrastructure.

Renewable diesel has a similar chemical composition to fossil diesel, making it a drop-in replacement.

Neste’s renewable diesel can be used unblended (100 percent concentration) without the need for any changes in the diesel-powered vehicles or their engines.

The use of 100 percent renewable diesel is widely approved by vehicle and engine manufacturers.