Whether you’re new to Bioheat® fuel or just want to know more, here’s everything you need to understand what it is, how it works, and why it matters.

Quick Bioheat® Fuel Facts

  • Bioheat® fuel is the only liquid heating fuel that can actively lower its carbon emissions over time.
  • It works in existing heating systems without any modifications or additional costs.
  • Current blends range from B2 (2% renewable liquid fuel) to B20 (20% renewable liquid fuel).
  • It reduces SOx, CO2, particulate matter, and mercury emissions.
  • A 30% average blend level could cut emissions by approximately 7 million metric tons of CO2 per year.
  • Bioheat® fuel is priced comparably to traditional heating fuels.
  • American renewable liquid fuel producers manufacture more than 6 billion gallons per year.
  • In 2024, the U.S. biomass-based diesel industry — which includes biodiesel and renewable diesel — supported about 107,400 jobs and generated $42.4 billion in economic activity1. This figure covers the entire value chain, from raw-material production and processing to fuel production and distribution.

1Clean Fuels Alliance America

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Bioheat® Fuel Frequently Asked Questions

Bioheat® fuel is a blend of  renewable liquid fuel and ultra-low sulfur heating fuel. It’s a renewable, lower-carbon alternative to traditional heating fuel that works in existing home heating systems without any modifications. Current blends range from B2 to B20, with the industry committed to increasing those blends over time.

LEARN HOW IT WORKS

Renewable liquid fuel is made from agricultural by-products that would otherwise go to waste, including soybean oil, inedible corn oil, used cooking oil, animal fats, canola oil, and other recycled oils.

These materials go through a process that separates the usable fuel from the glycerin. The glycerin gets repurposed into everyday products like soap, and what’s left is  renewable liquid fuel. It’s an efficient process that gets more out of materials that would otherwise be discarded.

Energy balance measures how much usable energy you get out of a fuel compared to the energy it took to produce it.

Renewable liquid fuel ‘s energy balance exceeds 4.5:1, meaning producers create more than 4.5 times the renewable energy than the traditional energy used to make it. For context, petroleum’s energy balance has dropped to as low as 4:1 due to the increasing difficulty of extraction through methods like fracking and tar sands.

Yes. If you have an existing heating system and fuel tank, you can use Bioheat® fuel without any modifications or additional costs.

Yes. To be called Bioheat® fuel, it must be made with ASTM D6751 grade renewable liquid fuel, a specification developed by engineers across the industry and around the world. It’s the only renewable replacement for traditional heating fuel with its own ASTM specification, and it has been tested and validated by organizations including the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Southwest Research Institute, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

No. Bioheat® fuel is priced comparably to traditional heating fuels. It also performs cleaner, which helps keep equipment running more efficiently over time.

Your bill depends on factors like outdoor temperatures, your tank size, and the size of your home. Since Bioheat® fuel is priced similarly to conventional heating fuel, you shouldn’t see a significant difference.

Yes. Bioheat® fuel is nontoxic, nonexplosive, and produces significantly fewer emissions than traditional heating fuels. It also produces visible smoke as an early warning sign if there’s an equipment issue.

Yes. Bioheat® fuel is reducing carbon emissions right now, in millions of homes across the country. The sooner homes switch, the greater the long-term impact. The industry has committed to reaching net-zero carbon emissions with 100% renewable Bioheat® fuel by 2050.

It depends on outdoor temperatures, your tank size, your home size, and the efficiency of your equipment. High-efficiency boilers and furnaces require less fuel overall, and Bioheat® fuel’s cleaner burn can help extend equipment life over time. Like conventional heating oil, these fuels should be purchased from fuel dealers that are trained and understand how to keep the fuels they provide working a peak performance.

Ready to Learn More?

Have questions about Bioheat® fuel or want to find a provider near you? Reach out and we’ll point you in the right direction.