A Call to Action for Cleaner Fuels in the Digital Infrastructure Industry

Overview

This document is an opinion piece published by the iMasons Climate Accord (Infrastructure Masons) in 2026 and freely available. The iCA Governing Body asks the industry to expand the use of renewable diesel (HVO) in backup generators as a near-term decarbonization step. Although backup generators often run only a few hours a year, fuel type is presented as an easy place to intervene given the sector's carbon footprint goals. The call is therefore a proposed industry commitment, not a technical specification.

The article explains that renewable diesel is a drop-in fuel meeting the same fuel specifications as fossil diesel. It meets ASTM D975 (US) and EN 15940 (EU and APAC), with near-identical engine performance. It has better storage stability than biodiesel, which matters for long-stored backup fuel. These properties support the claim that a fuel change can be made without major change to generator hardware; even so, OEM approval should be verified for each engine separately.

Product naming varies by region: HVO100 is the common global product, while in North America RD100 or RD99 (99% renewable, 1% petroleum) may be more available. Lifecycle GHG reduction depends on the feedstock and production pathway, and local air pollutants may also fall. The call addresses separate groups: operators are asked to consider renewable diesel where viable, equipment manufacturers to keep supporting compatibility, and fuel producers to expand supply. The document is advocacy, not an engineering standard; for generator suitability, OEM approval should be the basis.

Key points

1. Renewable diesel meets the same specifications as fossil diesel: ASTM D975 (US) and EN 15940 (EU and APAC), with near-identical engine performance.
2. HVO100 is the common global product; in North America RD100 or RD99 (99% renewable, 1% petroleum) may be more available.
3. Better storage stability than biodiesel, important for long-stored backup fuel.
4. Lifecycle GHG reduction depends on feedstock and production pathway; local air pollutants may also fall.
5. Asks: operators to consider renewable diesel where viable; OEMs to keep supporting compatibility; producers to expand supply.
6. Presented as a near-term decarbonization step for backup generators.
7. Related standards: ASTM D975, EN 15940.

Using it in design

• Add fuel type (diesel, HVO/EN 15940, RD99, biodiesel blend, natural gas) to generator catalogue entries with an OEM-approval flag.
• Allow users to select HVO for generator emissions estimates and warn if the chosen genset lacks EN 15940 approval.
• Add storage duration and fuel stability to the maintenance plan when changing fuel.

Who should read it

Operators, sustainability managers and electrical designers setting backup-generator fuel and emissions strategy.

Related standards

• ASTM D975
• EN 15940

Publication details

Authors

iMasons Climate Accord

Publisher

iMasons Climate Accord (Infrastructure Masons)

Year

2026

Document language

English

Source type

Industry body

Access

Free to read

Licence

Copyright retained; citation only — the publisher’s terms apply to the original document

Citation