PowerSecure, Neste Collaborate to Provide Future Ready Solutions to Support Sustainability and Resiliency Goals

DURHAM, N.C., [Aug. 31, 2021; Updated 4/18, 2024] –

As a leading energy innovation and solutions provider and a subsidiary of Southern Company, PowerSecure is committed to enabling energy users and producers to achieve energy security while also reaching their sustainability goals. Due to these commitments, we’re proud to announce our PowerBlock generation solutions are fully compatible with renewable diesel and renewable natural gas (RNG) as of August 2021.

By ensuring our PowerBlock generation solutions can run on RNG and renewable diesel, we make it easy for our clients to receive renewable energy microgrids. As you consider investing in a renewable energy microgrid, find out more about the need for generators to be RNG and renewable diesel-compatible.

Why Should Organizations Switch to Using Renewable Fuels in Their Microgrid?

Before you invest in generators with renewable energy capabilities, you probably want to know how they can serve your organization. Eric Dupont, chief development officer of PowerSecure, discusses how our transition to renewable fuels can help organizations meet many goals below:

“The transition to renewable fuel helps organizations achieve multiple goals: protecting investments and assets from being stranded as technology evolves, decarbonizing operations and maintaining critical operations during grid outages. Renewable fuels not only have the potential to displace an enormous amount of carbon emissions, but they represent a major milestone for PowerSecure and the energy users and producers we serve towards being future-ready.”

Essentially, the use of renewable fuels future-proofs your microgrid’s generators and helps support goals related to reducing one’s carbon footprint.

Why Are Renewable Fuels Better Than Fossil Fuels for Microgrids?

PowerSecure has formed a first-of-its-kind strategic collaboration with Neste, a major producer of renewable diesel, to offer our customers the option to power generators with renewable diesel. Renewable diesel and RNG are produced by recycling already existing carbon in the atmosphere, which can be processed to make renewable fuels over and over again. This ability to continue to recycle these fuels makes them far more sustainable than fossil fuels.

Below, you can find a breakdown of why renewable diesel and fossil diesel are better options for renewable energy microgrids:

Why Is Renewable Diesel Better Than Fossil Diesel?

Renewable diesel, which is made from 100% renewable raw materials, contains no aromatics, emits no new engine-out greenhouse gases, and significantly reduces fine particulates and nitrogen oxides, improving local air quality. Over the life cycle, the renewable diesel supplied by Neste reduces GHG emissions by up to 75% compared to fossil diesel.

Why Is Renewable Natural Gas Better Than Natural Gas?

In contrast to natural gas, RNG is made from methane captured from biomass waste and produces, on average, 51% fewer greenhouse gas emissions that are 21 times less potent than if that methane was released directly into the atmosphere. Since it’s been estimated that the United States has enough dry natural gas to last for only 86 years, switching to RNG is also a forward-thinking choice for many organizations.

How Does PowerSecure Promote the Use of Renewable Natural Gas?

The renewable “drop-in” fuels described above can be fully utilized in existing PowerBlock spark- and compression-fired assets immediately with no equipment modifications or additional costs required. This ability to quickly implement renewable fuels allows organizations to transition away from fossil fuels while still realizing high performance and reliability. “We are always looking ahead and continuously improving our solutions to maximize value for our customers now and well into the future,” said Dupont.

With our generators prepared to begin using RNG and renewable diesel immediately, our clients can quickly switch to these fuels. Since there isn’t any downtime or costs associated with switching over, our solutions promote sustainability goals while also being time- and cost-effective.

Why Did PowerSecure Choose Neste as Our Renewable Diesel Supplier?

Neste is recognized as one of the world’s most sustainable companies and was one of the first companies to make diesel fuel that is fully renewable. Today, Neste supplies a growing volume of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel to the United States. As one of the world’s largest producers of renewable diesel and a leading supplier in North America and Europe, Neste is investing in increasing its renewable diesel production capacity and making it easier for customers around the world to access cleaner, low-carbon fuel.

How Does RNG and Renewable Diesel Accelerate Decarbonization Efforts?

Renewable diesel or RNG can help to accelerate the move toward decarbonization. According to a recent report by policy consulting and analysis firm M-Cubed, California alone had over 21,000 diesel-fueled power generation units in just five of the state’s 35 air districts as of 2020 – emitting more than 442,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide.

Transitioning to renewable fuels would significantly reduce these emissions without requiring any equipment upgrades or modifications to existing generation systems. For this to happen, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) would need to expand the Low Carbon Fuel Standard to include stationary generators. These environmental impacts would be exponential if other states also adopted Low Carbon Fuel Standards.

If you’d like to learn more about how PowerSecure is building the future of renewable fuel-ready solutions, you can read more about it here.

Choose PowerSecure for Renewable Energy Microgrids

At PowerSecure, our team of experts has developed, installed, managed, and serviced 2+ GW of microgrid capacity over the past 20 years. During this time, we’ve also implemented over $800 million of energy efficiency upgrades. Our success is largely due to our full-facility, lifecycle approach through production and management, delivering clean and resilient energy to our customers at the best possible value. Combining our product innovation capabilities with our 360 integrated processes allows us to offer the best custom solution for your needs, backed by an unmatched level of expertise, quality, and service.

Learn more about our renewable energy microgrids today. If you have any questions or want to partner with us for your renewable energy microgrid needs, please contact us.

View / Download PDF of our original press release about our Neste partnership and renewable-fuel-ready generators.