Post: HVO: a cleaner path to energy resilience

HVO: a cleaner path to energy resilience

Grid constraints, extreme weather events, rising energy costs, and tightening sustainability requirements are placing increasing pressure on industrial and commercial (I&C) businesses to secure reliable, low-carbon power. One solution is emerging as a clear alternative to traditional diesel backup generation: hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO).

In this article we explore how HVO generators can help businesses improve resilience, unlock grid revenues, and reduce emissions, all with no upfront capital cost. 

Why energy resilience matters

Recent severe weather events and grid disturbances across Ireland have highlighted a critical issue: grid reliability can no longer be taken for granted. For industrial and commercial operators, power interruptions can result in:

• production downtime
• safety risks
• reputational damage
• financial penalties
• data loss

At the same time, the Irish grid increasingly requires flexible demand response and dispatchable capacity to support renewable integration. Businesses that can respond intelligently are well positioned to benefit.

What is HVO?

Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) is a renewable diesel alternative produced from waste vegetable oils and residues. Unlike many alternative fuels, HVO is fully compatible with modern diesel engines, enabling a seamless transition without operational disruption or complex retrofitting.

One of the most significant advantages of HVO over conventional diesel is its environmental performance. HVO can deliver up to 90% lower lifecycle CO₂ emissions compared to fossil diesel, alongside substantial decreases in nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and sulphur emissions. These reductions are increasingly important for businesses as environmental regulation tightens, and corporate sustainability reporting becomes more stringent.

But for businesses, resilience remains the primary driver for on-site generation.

The benefits of HVO generators

Recent storms and grid disturbances have demonstrated how vulnerable even well-connected regions can be to extended outages. For sectors such as manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, data centres, food processing, and large commercial campuses, a loss of power can result in immediate financial losses, safety risks, and long-term reputational damage. HVO generators provide dependable, extended outage cover, ensuring critical loads remain protected even during prolonged grid failures.

HVO generation can also be integrated into a broader, intelligent energy ecosystem. Rather than operating as a standalone backup asset, the generator becomes part of a co-ordinated system that may also include battery energy storage, solar PV generation, advanced electrical infrastructure, and automated control systems. Through features such as automatic transfer switching, islanding capability, load shedding, and black-start functionality, sites can achieve a high degree of energy independence, maintaining continuity of operations regardless of external grid conditions.

This integration also enables participation in demand response and flexibility markets. As the grid operator increasingly calls on flexible resources to balance supply and demand, businesses equipped with controllable load, battery storage, and on-site generation are uniquely positioned to respond. HVO generators allow sites to reduce grid import or dispatch on-site power during grid events without affecting core operations. In doing so, businesses can generate new revenue streams while actively supporting grid stability and renewable integration.

GridBeyond’s fully-funded model

For many organisations, the capital cost and operational complexity of installing and managing generation assets has historically been a barrier to participation.

GridBeyond removes this obstacle by providing end-to-end design, financing, installation, optimisation, and ongoing management. This allows customers to benefit from resilient, low-emission backup power and market participation without diverting capital away from core business activities.

We also integrate advanced EMS/SCADA systems, ensuring every kilowatt of energy on site is used efficiently and intelligently.

Conclusion

From a national perspective, the adoption of HVO generators supports Ireland’s broader transition to a low-carbon energy system. While renewable generation continues to expand, dispatchable and flexible resources remain essential to maintaining grid stability. HVO offers a cleaner alternative to diesel, reducing emissions today while supporting the integration of wind and solar generation. For businesses, HVO generators provide resilient, low-emission backup power, enable participation in demand response markets, support sustainability goals, and enhance overall energy independence.

When delivered as a fully funded, intelligently optimised solution, HVO generation becomes more than a safeguard against outages; it becomes a strategic asset that strengthens both operational performance and environmental credentials.

IE | HVO Flyer

GridBeyond has launched a fully funded Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) Generator Solution designed specifically for industrial and commercial sites across Ireland. This solution enables businesses to seamlessly integrate demand response participation with HVO-fuelled backup generation; offering low emissions, minimal disruption, and maximum operational resilience.

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