Neste helps data centre firm to use biofuel to power generators

Neste is helping the data centre specialist LCL make a switch to renewable energy sources for its emergency power generators by providing the company with Neste MY Renewable Diesel.
LCL becomes the first in its sector in Belgium to start using the renewable diesel for its emergency power generators. The fuel will initially be used in LCL facilities in LCL Brussels-West in Aalst located north-west of the city.
LCL has invested in six new Caterpillar emergency power generators, which will operate on Neste MY Renewable Diesel, or HVO100.
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.
“Switching to Neste MY Renewable Diesel enables an up to a 90% 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,” said Laurens van Reijen, managing director of LCL Data Centres. “We are striving hard to be an example for the other Belgian and European players in our sector.”
“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,” added Tim Bisson, director of Eneria Belux, a specialist in renewable energy supply and emergency power installations in Belgium.