South Korea allows bio-heavy oil for power generation

Test runs on five plants which run on bunker-C oil ended positively.

The South Korean Trade Ministry has approved the use of bio-heavy oil made with animal fat for domestic power generation purposes starting from January 2019. Test runs on research using bio-heavy oil made of animal fat, biodiesel by-products and leftover cooking oil have been conducted since 2014 at five power plants which run on bunker-C oil and the conclusions have turned out to be positive. The renewable bio-heavy oil may now be used as an adequate substitute for bunker-C oil and be commercialized.

This move will help the country to raise the share of renewable energies in its power generation mix to 20% by 2030. According to the Korea Petroleum Quality and Distribution Authority, bio-heavy oil power plants produce almost no sulfur oxides and emit 39% less nitrogen oxide, 28% less fine dust and 85% less greenhouse gases than heavy-oil power plants.

This article was originally published by Enerdata.