Orlen launches sale of 100% renewable diesel in Slovakia with pilot in Bratislava

Photo: Orlen

Orlen announced June 29 that it continues to expand its offering of low-emission fuels across European markets with the sales launch of 100 percent renewable diesel, also known as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO100), in Slovakia.

The group said the move marks another milestone in its strategy to reduce emissions from transport while broadening the availability of alternative fuels.

“The launch of HVO100 sales in Slovakia marks another step in our consistent efforts to build Orlen’s regional offering of low-emission fuels,” said Marek Balawejder, Orlen’s vice president of the management board for consumer and products. “Following the rollout of HVO100 in Germany and the expansion of its availability in the Czech Republic and Austria, we are now bringing the fuel to the Slovak market, beginning with a pilot in Bratislava. This will allow us to assess potential demand in a live-market environment, better understand customer needs and test our network’s operational readiness before rolling out the product more widely. HVO100 illustrates how fuels of this type can help reduce emissions from transport without requiring any changes on the part of users of diesel-powered vehicles. This is a key pillar of our strategy—to develop an advanced, competitive fuel portfolio while responding to the challenges of the energy transition.”

Following the pilot launch at an Orlen service station in Bratislava, the fuel is available to users of both passenger cars and heavy-duty vehicles.

HVO100 is compatible with most modern diesel engines, providing a lower-emission alternative to conventional diesel without requiring modifications to refueling infrastructure or any significant changes on the part of vehicle users.

The fuel is produced from renewable feedstocks, including used cooking oil (UCO), animal fats and residues from the food-processing industry.

Through a hydrotreatment process, these feedstocks are converted into a high-quality fuel with stable performance characteristics comparable to those of conventional diesel.

Depending on the feedstocks used and the overall production pathway, HVO100 can leave a lower greenhouse-gas footprint over its lifecycle.

HVO100 is currently available at selected Orlen service stations in Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic.

Its introduction into the Slovak market further expands the fuel’s availability across Central Europe.

Orlen has been present in Slovakia since 2019 and currently operates a network of 102 service stations there.

Alongside its core fuel business, the network continues to expand its nonfuel offering, including the Stop Cafe foodservice concept and convenience services, while investing in infrastructure upgrades such as photovoltaic installations, heat-recovery systems and electric-vehicle charging stations.

The Orlen Group operates retail businesses in seven European countries and manages a network of more than 3,500 service stations.