Helsinki buses to run on 100% biodiesel

The Scania buses operated by Helsingin Bussiliikenne will run on 100% ‘next generation biomass to liquid’ (NExBTL) biodiesel as part of a project to promote the use of biofuels and improve air quality in the city. The buses previously operated on a blend of 30% NExBTL biodiesel and 70% fossil diesel.

Emissions
NExBTL biodiesel is produced by Neste Oil. According to Neste Oil, the fuel generates significantly less particulate and nitric oxide emissions than conventional diesel. A previous test showed that pure NExBTL biodiesel can reduce nitric oxide emissions by about 15% and particulate emissions by about 30% compared to fossil diesel.

The greenhouse gas emissions for the entire life cycle of the fuel – using sustainable raw materials – are reportedly reduced by about 50% compared to fossil diesel.

Feedstock flexible
Neste’s proprietary process converts biological triglycerides, such as vegetable oils and animal fats, into a high-quality, non-oxygenated hydrocarbon biodiesel which has similar properties to synthetic gas to liquid (GTL) and biomass to liquid (BTL) diesels. Neste claim that NExBTL is the most feedstock flexible fuel currently available.

Plant
Neste opened a NExBTL biodiesel plant at its Porvoo refinery in Finland in 2007. The plant can produce 170,000 tonnes of the fuel annually from a mix of vegetable oil and animal fat. A second plant at Porvoo is scheduled for completion in late 2008.

Partnership
The Helsinki project is part of an ongoing partnership between the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council (YTV), Helsinki City Transport (HKL), Proventia and Neste Oil. The buses involved in the project will be subject to exhaust gas measurements at the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT).