Neste helps data center power emergency generators with biofuel

Neste is helping the data center specialist LCL make a switch to renewable energy sources for its emergency power generators by providing the company with Neste MY Renewable Diesel. With this, LCL becomes the first in its sector in Belgium to start using Neste MY Renewable Diesel for its emergency power generators. The fuel will initially be used in LCL facilities in LCL Brussels-West in Aalst located northwest from Brussels. LCL has invested in six new Caterpillar emergency power generators, which will operate on Neste MY Renewable Diesel (also known as “HVO100” thanks to being produced from 100 percent renewable raw materials).

In the next phase, LCL plans to have all its emergency power generators in its five data centers in Belgium operating on Neste MY Renewable Diesel. The emergency power generators are only used during monthly tests, when the electricity is cut or during real power outages. During tests, the LCL technicians verify that all backup systems continue to operate efficiently, correctly and quickly.

“Switching to Neste MY Renewable Diesel enables an up to a 90 percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the generators. With the volume of renewable diesel we are sourcing for emergency power generators, we will reach a reduction of 72 tons of CO₂ equivalent,” says Laurens van Reijen, Managing Director of LCL Data Centers. “We are striving hard to be an example for the other Belgian and European players in our sector,” adds Laurens van Reijen.

“We were delighted to receive the request from the data center specialist LCL to ensure its emergency power generators operate on Neste MY Renewable Diesel. We tested operating the Caterpillar generators with fossil diesel, with renewable diesel, also known as HVO100, and then with a blend of the two fuels. Our conclusion was that whatever fuel was used, the performance – the power and reactivity – of the generators remained the same,” says Tim Bisson, director of Eneria Belux, a specialist in renewable energy supply and emergency power installations in Belgium.

“With Neste MY Renewable Diesel, greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by up to 90 percent when emissions over the fuel's life cycle are compared with fossil diesel. Companies like LCL can reduce their climate emissions in an instant by just changing the fuel,” says Peter Zonneveld, vice president sales renewable road transportation at Neste. “With our renewables production capacity increasing to 5.5 million tons by the end of 2023 and further to 6.8 million tons by the end of 2026, we are well-equipped to help our customers around the world to make the switch to more sustainable solutions.” Peter Zonneveld continues.