Neste Oil’s pioneering cooperation with Lufthansa saw the latter begin commercial flights using Neste Oil's NExBTL renewable aviation fuel this July on scheduled services between Hamburg and Frankfurt.

One of the engines of the Airbus A321 aircraft used on four daily return flights between the two cities runs on a blend of 50% NExBTL renewable aviation fuel and 50% fossil fuel, while the other runs on regular fossil-based jet fuel.

The use of Neste Oil's NExBTL aviation fuel became possible following the approval by ASTM International of renewable aviation fuel produced through hydrotreating vegetable oil and animal fat. Neste Oil refines its fuel from vegetable oil and waste fat that are fully traceable back to their source and comply with the EU's stringent sustainability criteria. Camelina oil, jatropha oil, and waste animal fat are used to produce the fuel being used by Lufthansa.

As a pure hydrocarbon comparable to fossil aviation fuel, Neste Oil's NExBTL renewable aviation fuel meets the tough requirements expected of aviation fuel in terms of high energy content and low-temperature performance. NExBTL renewable aviation fuel also offers a lower level of environmental impact than fossil fuel, thanks to its significantly smaller carbon footprint and lower levels of other airborne pollutants, such as NO_x.

NExBTL renewable aviation fuel is fully compatible with all current aircraft engines and no aircraft-related investments or modifications are needed before it can be used. Neste Oil is currently one of the only companies in the world capable of producing renewable aviation fuel on a commercial scale. Photo courtesy of Lufthansa.

Europe’s largest renewable diesel plant

Consolidating its position as the world's leading producer of renewable diesel, Neste Oil recently started up Europe's largest renewable diesel plant in Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

The plant, which completes a major €1.5 billion investment programme, was finished on-schedule and on-budget and will be capable of producing 800,000 t/a, increasing Neste Oil's total renewable diesel capacity to 2 million t/a. Utilising Neste Oil's proprietary NExBTL technology, the plant can make flexible use of almost any vegetable oil or waste fat.

The new plant joins a similar-sized one in Singapore that came on stream in 2010 and two smaller units in Porvoo in Finland that came on stream in 2007 and 2009.

Neste Oil's NExBTL renewable diesel is compatible with all diesel engines and existing fuel distribution systems. It offers excellent performance at low temperatures and can be used either blended with fossil diesel or as such. NExBTL helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40-80% compared to fossil diesel, and its lower tailpipe emissions make a valuable contribution to enhancing overall air quality, especially in urban areas.

Following the start-up of its new plant in Rotterdam, seen here, Neste Oil now has 2 million t/a of renewable fuel capacity on stream. All of Neste Oil's NExBTL plants can produce NExBTL renewable aviation fuel as well as renewable diesel. Photo courtesy of Neste Oil.

For more on NExBTL technology and Neste Oil, see our article or visit the company’s Web site .

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