Neste's Renewable Diesel Development Dates Back to the 1990s

Neste's journey into renewable diesel started in the 1990s with an idea to process forestry by-products, such as tall oil, into energy. At that time, oil companies without their own exploration and production operations were incentivized to find alternative value creation methods. Lars Peter Lindfors, Senior Vice President for Technology & Innovation, has witnessed this evolution firsthand.

Early experiences in supplying gasoline components that met California's stringent emissions regulations in the 1980s provided Neste with foundational knowledge for future advancements. Their proprietary NEXBTL technology, capable of converting various renewable raw materials into high-quality fuels, received a significant boost from the EU's biofuel directive in the early 2000s.

The NEXBTL technology enables the production of a high-quality, pure hydrocarbon diesel fuel, Neste MY Renewable Diesel. This HVO fuel can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% compared to fossil diesel over its lifecycle. It can be used in its pure form or blended with other fuels.

As the business model evolved, Neste expanded its raw material base from the vegetable oils used initially to include waste and residues of lower quality, covering approximately 10–20 different raw material types. The company's first NEXBTL refinery was inaugurated in 2007.