Petrobras Set for New Gasoline Specs, Will Test Renewable Diesel Production at REPAR
by Robert Brelsford (Oil & Gas Journal) … Lara (Anelise Lara, Petrobras’s director of refining and natural gas) also said that, starting in July, Petrobras will begin carrying out production tests for renewable diesel at its 208,000-b/d Presidente Getúlio Vargas (REPAR) refinery in Araucária, Paraná.
“The economic viability of renewable diesel depends on its recognition in compliance with the rule of adding biofuels to diesel, a subject that is currently under discussion at the ANP. This will allow an increase in the competitiveness of biofuels for the diesel cycle,” said Lara.
Adoption of renewable paraffinic diesel (HVO)—which, also known as green diesel, improves performance of engines by helping prevent clogging of filters, pumps, and injectors—not only would help supply—together with existing biodiesel production—the portion of biofuel that must be mixed with diesel sold at Brazilian service stations, but also would support Brazil in achieving the P8 phase of its air pollution control program for motor vehicles (Programa de Controle da Poluição do Ar por Veículos Automotores; Proconve) applicable to new on-road heavy-duty vehicles taking effect in phases during 2022-23, Petrobras said.
HVO can be produced in dedicated plants or via coprocessing of renewable raw material (vegetable oil, animal fats) together with mineral diesel in units inside oil refineries using Petrobras’s proprietary H-Bio process.
Unlike biodiesel produced by the simpler process of transesterification—in which vegetable oil or animal fat reacts with an alcohol in the presence of catalysts—the H-Bio process—in which vegetable oil and petroleum distillate is mixed in a hydrotreating unit—results in a more stable renewable diesel, according to the operator.
While it disclosed no further details regarding REPAR’s production tests for renewable diesel, Petrobras did confirm any entry of such fuel into the market will still depend on regulation by the ANP. READ MORE WATCH VIDEO
What’s the Difference between Biodiesel and Renewable (Green) Diesel? 2020 revision (Advanced Biofuels USA)