Clean fuel option with Komatsu

Komatsu says that the company has made a decision to switch to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) as factory-fill fuel for Komatsu equipment produced in Europe.

August 1, 2023 Read time: 2 mins

Komatsu machines can now run on HVO fuels

This is in line with Komatsu’s long-term goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Komatsu is commencing this switch at its Komatsu Germany, Construction Division (KGC) plant in Hannover, Germany, and at the Komatsu UK plant in Birtley, England, with other Komatsu Europe plants to follow.

The combustion engines in Komatsu machines can be operated with HVO with no modifications required. The switch to this renewable, paraffinic fuel as a sustainable alternative to traditional diesel fuel is a major step that Komatsu is taking towards reducing its environmental impact. It shows that the company's machines can run on a cleaner and more sustainable fuel, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improving air quality.

HVO is produced from renewable raw material such as cooking oil and animal fats wastes. It is a simple drop-in replacement for fossil diesel, but with high cetane, no oxygen and no aromatics. It can lower the amount of greenhouse gas emitted by Komatsu equipment by up to 90%, if the machine is fuelled with Neste MY Renewable Diesel (= HVO 100) from Neste, one of Komatsu’s main suppliers of HVO.

"HVO not only grants lower emissions during operation by superior chemical composition. said Ingo Büscher, managing director of KGC. “Komatsu’s HVO first fill product (Neste MY Renewable Diesel) is mainly made of waste material limiting consumption renewable resources such as vegetable oils." He added: "We are committed to support our customers in achieving their long-term sustainability goals as a one team approach. We believe that HVO is an effective and economical option to both reduce emissions and save limited resources.”

Komatsu’s switch to HVO factory-fill fuel is just one of the many steps that the company is taking towards sustainability, along with the research and development of new technologies and solutions such as electric and hydrogen-powered machines, to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and achieve its zero-emission goal.

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Komatsu

Fuel change to HVO option for Komatsu

Komatsu is now offering an HVO fuel option.

Komatsu’s machines can now run on HVO fuels

Komatsu aims to be completely carbon neutral by 2050 

According to Komatsu Europe’s chief operating officer Goksel Guner, the group will also “increase the rate of renewable energy used to 50%”.

The world’s second-biggest manufacturer of construction equipment says that it will bring the same approach to its supply chain.

“Komatsu will deploy the relevant technologies at material suppliers and other partners to help them also achieve carbon neutrality in their operations,” says the company, and it will be “adopting a two-pronged approach toward this drastic reduction.

“With about 90% of the total CO₂ being emitted by products in use, the first prong is to increase the equipment’s work and fuel efficiency, and to transition from diesel and other internal combustion engines to cleaner power sources, including hybrid and electric engines and fuel cells.”

The second prong will centre around Komatsu’s ‘Smart Construction’ project, which the company describes as “the improvement of processes.

“CO₂ emissions will be lowered by helping to optimise customers’ workplace operations and processes, to reduce the amount of equipment needed along with actual operating hours.”

Following the well-established ‘work smarter, not harder’ principle, Komatsu will also be pushing its ability to re-manufacture and re-use components, seeking “carbon neutrality initiatives at production bases (and) energy conservation ideas.”

Renewable energy generated in-house and bought from the grid will play a big part, too.