Amazon will introduce HVO generators in its EU data centers, starting in Ireland and Sweden.
This week Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced that it is adopting hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) for its backup generators in Europe. The cloud services giant has confirmed that the new HVO-powered systems will first be introduced in the company’s data centers in Ireland and Sweden.
HVO is a synthetic paraffinic diesel, made from vegetable oils or waste reprocessing with added hydrogen. It is known as a “drop-in” replacement fuel, which means that HVO can be used in existing diesel generators without needing to modify or upgrade the existing engines. HVO remains stable in cold winter temperatures, making it an ideal solution for Northern Europe.
Reducing CO2 emissions by 90%
According to Amazon, over the HVO fuel’s lifecycle, it can reduce carbon emissions by 90% compared to straight diesel. Amazon’s HVO solution can be made with various oils, including waste cooking oil, vegetable, plant, and residue oils. It can also be blended with diesel to create a hybrid fuel.
Though AWS hasn’t named its fuel partner in Sweden, the company said it works with Certa in Ireland.
“We’re excited to be working with AWS to help drive their renewable energy transition through the supply of our HVO”, said Andrew Graham, managing director of Certa Ireland. “At Certa, our mission is to connect our customers with the most progressive energy solutions available, and as a straight drop-in replacement for conventional diesel”.
Part of Amazon’s climate change commitment
Neil Morris, AWS’s Director of Infrastructure Operations for Northern Europe, praised his company’s environmentalism. “At AWS, we’re committed to and invested in sustainability because it’s a win all around—it’s good for the planet, for business, for our customers, and for our communities”, he said.
“Transitioning to HVO is just one of the many ways we’re improving the sustainability of our data centres, decarbonising our operations, and working towards Amazon’s company-wide goal to meet net-zero carbon by 2040, ten years ahead of the Paris Agreement.”
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