Renewable Diesel: How Lincoln Energy is Fueling a Resilient Future for South Carolina
While fuel alternatives can sometimes feel like a future concept, renewable diesel is one solution that is here and making an impact. As an alternative to traditional diesel, renewable diesel helps organizations reduce life cycle emissions by approximately 80 percent without requiring any changes to existing equipment, and is transforming how companies in South Carolina transport goods, divert waste and work toward their sustainability goals.
For Sustain SC Member Lincoln Energy, a Greenville-based fuel solutions provider with more than 40 years in the industry, renewable diesel is more than a product; it’s a powerful fuel solution. Renewable diesel dramatically lowers greenhouse gas emissions and offers a profitable opportunity for businesses to divert their waste from landfills. These benefits support the economy and well-being of local communities, making renewable diesel an increasingly attractive option for companies looking to advance their sustainability goals.
Renewable Diesel 101: What Is It and How Can It Advance South Carolina’s Sustainability Goals
Renewable diesel performs exactly like traditional petroleum diesel, but with an 80 percent reduction in life cycle emissions when compared to regular diesel. Like biodiesel, renewable diesel uses feedstock—renewable and waste-based materials such as soybean oil and used cooking oils—that undergoes a refining process resulting in a fuel that is nearly identical to traditional diesel. Renewable diesel is held to the same regulations and specifications as traditional diesel and meets or exceeds the requirements of ASTM D975, the American Society for Testing and Materials standard that outlines the specifications for conventional diesel fuel used in automotive and industrial applications.
“The only way that people in the fuel industry can identify renewable diesel from traditional is by lab-testing with radiocarbon dating,” said founder of Bannerstone Energy, Paul Stabler. “Otherwise, it's exactly the same fuel. It just comes from a renewable source versus crude oil coming from the ground.”
This is what makes renewable diesel a true “drop-in” solution, meaning it can be substituted in diesel engines without any updates to existing technology or significant capital investment. This allows for a seamless transition to a renewable source that can be used directly in unmodified fleets, heavy equipment and generators, helping companies reduce their Scope 1 emissions—the direct greenhouse gas emissions produced by company-owned or controlled sources — and advance their sustainability goals.
But supporting sustainability is only part of the story. Renewable diesel introduces a powerful economic opportunity that allows South Carolina small businesses, manufacturers and the broader supply chain to participate. The use of cooking oil feedstock to produce renewable diesel allows businesses across the state to transform their waste stream into a valuable commodity. Restaurants, food processors and other local facilities that produce similar waste types can now sell these products instead of discarding them, turning a cost into a profit. This allows industries that once produced sizable waste to now contribute directly to the circular economy and renewable energy solutions.
Leading the Way: How Lincoln Energy Can Support Your Sustainability Journey
As renewable diesel gains momentum as an alternative fuel solution, Lincoln Energy is ready to guide South Carolina organizations through the transition. With more than 40 years of experience supplying, blending, storing and delivering alternative fuels, Lincoln Energy has built a reputation for helping their customers advance their sustainability goals without disrupting operations.
For South Carolina companies, this means having a partner who understands both the technical demands of renewable fuels and the practicalities of operating in our state’s rapidly growing economic landscape. When it comes to customer success, Lincoln Energy ensures they understand the customers’ specific sustainability goals at the onset. This helps them design a custom plan using local diesel terminals for a seamless and cost-effective transition. Lincoln Energy provides ample documentation to their customers, including custom CO2 reduction reports and a Certificate of Analysis to verify the fuel quality and specifications. They also offer a low-risk test period for new customers to pilot the transition to renewable diesel and ensure the product is a good fit for their operations.
“It's not all or nothing. If companies want to use a blend of renewable and traditional, we can do a blend. If they want to fully convert to renewable? You know, we'd love to do that too,” said Senior Director of Renewable Fuels Trading and Commercial Operations, Tyler Pfister. “We can fit the pilot program or the amounts of fuel that they want to run, based on their business needs. We are flexible with our customers. There aren’t long-term contract requirements, and we provide weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly contracting options.”
Most of Lincoln Energy’s commitment to service is making renewable diesel accessible wherever it’s needed. The company demonstrated this commitment by developing a network of renewable diesel terminals throughout South Carolina. These terminals created reliable supply hubs that have expanded availability across the Southeast.
“Before we established our terminals in the region, renewable diesel wasn’t readily available,” Pfister said. “So, we made it happen.” And that’s exactly what they did. Lincoln Energy has proven it can meet its customers’ needs anywhere in the state and beyond.
As demand grows, Lincoln Energy plans to expand collection efforts of feedstocks from South Carolina restaurants, food processing facilities and even hospitals. Through this future endeavor, Lincoln Energy will participate in the state’s circular economy and will allow businesses to sell their waste-based products more easily.
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