Chevron Pushes Through Barriers to Provide Lower Carbon Intensity Fuel Solutions
Recently, Mary O’Connell from FreightWaves Net-zero Carbon Podcast sat down with Dave Slade, Chief Technologist at Chevron Renewable Energy Group to have a discussion on reducing carbon intensity with a special lens on freight, fuel and energy.
Watch and learn how we are helping customers work toward their lower carbon intensity targets.
Lowering carbon intensity is becoming more than an industry trend aimed at aligning with environmental regulations—it's an opportunity to stand out as a leader. Chevron offers a complete suite of lower carbon intensity fuel solutions to help carriers find an available and scalable approach that can often be customized to their business needs.
As one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, the commercial transportation industry plays a major role in helping to create a lower carbon intensity future.1
“Embracing alternatives to traditional fuels is not only about aligning with environmental regulations — it can also be a strategic move for carriers to position themselves as a more responsive supply chain partner and potentially expand business opportunities,” said Chevron Renewable Energy Group Chief Technologist, Dave Slade. Chevron is expanding the use of renewable fuels, such as biodiesel and renewable diesel, as well as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), renewable natural gas (RNG), compressed natural gas (CNG), renewable gasoline blend (RGB) and hydrogen. This includes working to make these fuels more accessible, affordable and abundant.
“We offer a suite of lower carbon intensity fuels to help meet customers where they are on their lower carbon journey for their targets and operations,” Slade said.
Meeting customers where they are is crucial, especially in times of challenging market conditions. Chevron helps direct its customers to solutions that will work for them today — and provide options for the future.
“To help expand the use of lower carbon fuels, we have invested in innovative technologies2 and are expanding production capacities3 4 5 to increase both supply and availability. In fact, we’re nearing the completion of a substantial improvement and expansion project at our renewable diesel production facility3 in Geismar, Louisiana. The project will take total site production capacity from 90 million gallons per year to 340 million gallons per year.” Slade said.
Chevron is also investing in strategic relationships with companies such as Optimus Technologies, an advanced fuel system technology manufacturer. The Optimus system upgrades medium- and heavy-duty engines to run on 100% biodiesel without significant engine modifications.2 Possible OEM integration of this system at a factory level as an option for new trucks may happen within the next couple of years.
In addition to innovative technologies and strategic relationships, Chevron is investing in expanded infrastructure as well as helping to overcome regulatory hurdles that challenge the implementation of lower carbon intensity fuels.
“We continue to tell the Chevron story and message to policymakers and stakeholders to emphasize that renewable diesel and biodiesel can help lower carbon intensity today,” Slade said. “We want to help ensure that policies are not only favorable but feasible, so that our customers can be successful in implementing lower carbon intensity fuel solutions.”
1 https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/fast-facts-transportation-greenhouse-gas-emissions
2 https://www.regi.com/about/our-partnerships/optimus-technologies
3 https://www.regi.com/resources/press-releases/renewable-energy-group-breaks-ground-on-geismar-louisiana-renewable-diesel-expansion-and-improvement-project
4 https://www.regi.com/resources/press-releases/renewable-energy-group-enters-strategic-partnership-with-cfn-and-pacific-pride-to-expand-distribution-of-cleaner-fuels
5 https://www.chevron.com/newsroom/2023/q2/energy-everywhere-renewable-diesel