Certa expands to 25 HVO sites across Ireland

Certa, which is part of DCC plc, is expanding to 25 HVO fuel sites across Ireland as it responds to what it calls “soaring demand from thousands of diesel drivers who are choosing the renewable fuel to reduce their carbon emissions while they hold back on switching to an electric vehicle (EV)”.

Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) is produced from waste plant matter and can be used as a direct replacement for diesel without any need for engine modifications to help motorists lower their carbon emissions by up to 90 per cent.

Demand for HVO is said to be being driven by diesel drivers who want to ‘go green’ but who have put off switching to an EV for a variety of reasons, including the cost of buying one, the lack of charging infrastructure across the country, and not having their own driveway or off-street parking where they can install a home charger.

Certa is expanding its HVO offering at a rapid pace and its new HVO fuel site in Portlaoise, which opens to the public this week, is the 25th such site to open over the past 18 months across 17 counties.

Certa opened Ireland’s first fully fledged HVO fuel station in Liffey Valley in late 2023 at a cost of €1 million. The company has plans to open five more HVO fuel sites over the coming months.

Certa operates a total of 54 forecourt sites and is now the largest supplier of HVO to motorists across Ireland.

Demand for the renewable fuel has also been helped by Certa’s decision to provide the new HVO pumps alongside its diesel and petrol pumps. The fuel is distinguished by a pink nozzle to stand out from the traditional black diesel and green petrol nozzles.

Orla Stevens, managing director, Certa Ireland said: “The demand for HVO has grown as we have opened each new HVO fuel site across our network and our plan is to complete the upgrading of our entire network into next year as we continue our journey towards a net zero future.”