HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.b. Receive update regarding using renewable diesel in Collection System Operations (CSO) vehicles Page 1 of 2
Item 4.b.
CENTRAL SAN
September 16, 2019
TO: REAL ESTATE, ENVIRONMENTAL AND PLANNING COMMITTEE
FROM: PAUL SEITZ, COLLECTION SYSTEM MAINTENANCE DIVISION MANAGER
REVIEWED BY: ANN K. SASAKI, DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER
ROGER S. BAILEY, GENERAL MANAGER
SUBJECT: RECEIVE UPDATE REGARDING USING RENEWABLE DIESEL IN
COLLECTION SYSTEM OPERATIONS (CSO) VEHICLES
At the June 10, 2019 Real Estate and Environmental Planning (REEP) Committee meeting, Member
McGill requested that staff evaluate a recent East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) presentation on
Renewable Biodiesel and whether it is something Central San should consider.
Around 2007, EBMUD conducted a pilot study to demonstrate the production and use of biodiesel from
interceptor waste grease. B20 and B100 biodiesels were produced from waste grease for use in four
heavy-duty trucks and they were tested alongside commercially available biodiesel. The pilot results
indicated that biodiesel could be produced from the interceptor waste grease for use in the heavy-duty
trucks. However, there were some issues associated with the biodiesel use such as high sulfur content,
increased fuel filter replacement, and fuel tank heaters required during the winter. The pilot study never
progressed to a full-scale production run because reducing the sulfur to meet the regulatory standards
would have been prohibitively expensive.
I n 2016, EBMUD began a two-year pilot at their two main corporation yards using renewable diesel. While
biodiesel and renewable diesel can be produced from the same type of waste fats and oils, they are
different products with different properties and undergo different refining processes. Renewable diesel is
only produced at large scale refineries. The use of renewable diesel at EBMUD has proven so
successful that in June of 2018, they began using it at several other yards. EBMUD is now using it at 7 out
of 12 yards. In addition to EBMUD, several agencies including; the County of Sacramento, San Francisco
Department of the Environment, Red and White Fleet, City of Oakland, City of San Leandro, City of
Beverly Hills, City of San Diego, WestCAT, and Pasadena Fire Department are now using renewable
diesel. In addition, private fleets such as Cemex and Fuel Delivery Services have begun to use
renewable diesel in their fleets.
CSO staff has been evaluating renewable diesel over the last six months and have identified several
benefits. These benefits include extending the Diesel Particulate Filter(DPF) regen intervals, which
reduces the number of times the diesel particulate filters have to be removed from the trucks and sent out
to vendors for cleaning. It reduces the diesel particulates workers are exposed to while working around
the heavy-duty trucks. It reduces the number of times the fuel filters have to be replaced. Lastly, it
increases the cold start performance of the diesel engines. Renewable diesels meetASTM D975,
ULSD, and CARB specifications which means it is interchangeable with petroleum diesel and can be
used without changes to the equipment or voiding of the manufacturer's warranties. Central San's fuel
September 16, 2019 REEP Committee Meeting Agenda Packet- Page 19 of 32
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delivery contract will be going out to bid in the near future and staff is going to add renewable diesel as an
additional bid item. This would allow the fleet to operate to pilot test renewable diesel and have petroleum
diesel as a backup. I n discussion with other fleet managers, the cost of renewable diesel is about the
same as petroleum diesel. The savings in maintenance by using renewable diesel should offset additional
costs if any. Currently, CSO uses approximately 30,000 gallons of diesel a year.
Strategic Plan re-In
GOAL THREE: Be a Fiscally Sound and Effective Water Sector Utility
Strategy 2- Manage costs
GOAL SIX: Embrace Technology, Innovation and Environmental Sustainability
Strategy 2- Reduce reliance on non-renewable energy, Strategy 3- Encourage the review and testing of technology to
optimize and modernize business operations
September 16, 2019 REEP Committee Meeting Agenda Packet- Page 20 of 32