Ameer Randolph
California has been taking steps to reduce the sulfur content in diesel fuel since the adoption of diesel fuel regulations in 1988, which set limits on sulfur content. These regulations have been updated over time, with the most recent changes in 2006 lowering the maximum sulfur content in diesel fuel from 500 ppmw to 15 ppmw. This move aligns with the U.S. EPA's regulations and is part of a risk reduction plan implemented by the Air Resources Board (ARB) to reduce Californians' exposure to diesel particulate matter (PM) and enable the use of advanced emission control technologies. While ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel is widely available across the US and is mandated for all highway diesel vehicles, California is exempt from the requirement that pumps dispensing ULSD be labeled as such.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sulfur content | 15 ppmw or less |
| Aromatic hydrocarbon content | 10% by volume |
| Emission reduction | 7% Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), 25% Particulate Matter (PM), 80% Sulfur Oxides (SO2) |
| Advanced emission control technologies | Catalyzed particulate filters, NOx after-treatment |
| Equivalent aromatic reference fuel | 10% |
| Proportion of diesel-powered vehicles in California | 4% |
| Proportion of direct PM emissions from diesel-powered vehicles | 60% |
| Year ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel was implemented in California | 2006 |
| Year ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel was required to be sold in the U.S. | 2010 |
| Grade of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel | Grade 2, Grade 3 or S15 |
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What You'll Learn
California's diesel fuel regulations
In 1988, California adopted diesel fuel regulations that set limits on both aromatic hydrocarbon content and sulfur content. Specifically, the regulations allowed for a maximum of 10% aromatic hydrocarbon content by volume and 500 parts per million by weight (ppmw) of sulfur. These regulations came into effect in 1993 and aimed to reduce various emissions from diesel engines and equipment, including oxides of nitrogen (NOx), particulate matter (PM), sulfur oxides (SO2), and toxic substances like benzene and Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs).
However, recognizing the need for further action, the Air Resources Board (ARB) proposed a risk reduction plan to minimize Californians' exposure to diesel particulate matter (PM). This plan, implemented in 2006, aimed to reduce the maximum sulfur content in diesel fuel from 500 ppmw to just 15 ppmw or less. This change facilitated the use of advanced emission control technologies, such as catalyzed particulate filters and NOx after-treatment, for both new and retrofitted engines.
The transition to lower sulfur diesel fuel, often referred to as ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD), was a significant step forward. ULSD contains 97% less sulfur than low-sulfur diesel (LSD) and enables the utilization of improved pollution control devices that more effectively reduce diesel emissions. California's adoption of ULSD aligned with the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (U.S. EPA) efforts to establish consistent diesel fuel standards across the nation.
While great strides have been made, California continues to refine its diesel fuel regulations. The state is committed to exploring alternative diesel fuel formulations that can further reduce emissions and improve air quality for its residents. These regulations are part of California's broader strategy to address the environmental and health impacts associated with diesel-powered vehicles, which comprise about 4% of the state's motor vehicles yet contribute disproportionately to harmful emissions.
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The Air Resources Board's risk reduction plan
In September 2000, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) adopted the Diesel Risk Reduction Plan, which recommends several control measures to reduce the risks associated with diesel particulate matter (PM) and achieve a goal of 75% PM reduction by 2010 and 85% by 2020.
The ARB estimates that about 27,000 tons of diesel PM are emitted into California's air each year. Diesel-powered vehicles make up about 4% of California's motor vehicles, but they produce about 60% of directly emitted PM. In 1998, the ARB identified diesel particulate matter as a Toxic Air Contaminant, listing the compound as a known human carcinogen. Health problems associated with exposure to diesel PM include respiratory illness, heart problems, asthma, and cancer.
The risk reduction plan outlines strategies to require particulate matter (PM) traps on all new and most existing diesel engines in California. This includes heavy-duty trucks and buses, construction equipment, passenger vehicles, trash haulers, generators, and agricultural and marine engines. The plan calls for low-sulfur diesel fuel, 15 ppmw or less, to enable the use of catalyzed particulate filters, NOx after-treatment, and other advanced emission control technologies, both for new and retrofitted existing engines.
In 2001, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) adopted a low-sulfur limit for diesel fuel used in on-road motor vehicles, effective June 2006. The proposed amendments to the California diesel fuel regulations would reduce diesel fuel's maximum sulfur content from 500 ppmw to 15 ppmw, starting in mid-2006. Refiners can use an alternative diesel fuel formulation that produces emissions equivalent to those obtained with the specified 10% aromatic reference fuel, as determined through a series of engine tests.
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Ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) definition
Ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) is a type of diesel fuel with significantly reduced sulfur content. ULSD is considered a cleaner-burning fuel that contains 97% less sulfur than low-sulfur diesel (LSD). The National Environment Agency (NEA) defines ULSD as diesel fuel with less than 50 parts per million (ppm) of sulfur, or 0.005 per cent. From July 2017 onwards, the NEA further lowered the limit to 10 ppm.
ULSD was developed to facilitate the use of improved pollution control devices, which reduce diesel emissions more effectively but are susceptible to damage from sulfur. Since 2006, almost all petroleum-based diesel fuel available in Europe and North America has been of the ULSD type. The transition to ULSD allows for the implementation of advanced emissions control technologies, which substantially reduce the harmful emissions produced by diesel combustion. Engine manufacturers and regulatory bodies have found that using emissions control devices in conjunction with ULSD can reduce the exhaust output of ozone precursors and particulate matter to near-zero levels.
In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed ULSD as a new standard for the sulfur content in on-road diesel fuel sold nationwide since October 15, 2006, except for rural Alaska, which transitioned in 2010. As of December 1, 2010, all diesel fuel sold in the U.S. must be ULSD, and pumps dispensing ULSD must be labelled as such, except in California. California has implemented its own diesel fuel regulations, which set limits on sulfur content, among other emissions.
California's Air Resources Board (ARB) is implementing a risk reduction plan to decrease Californians' exposure to diesel particulate matter (PM). The plan advocates for the use of low sulfur diesel fuel, with a maximum of 15 ppmw of sulfur content, to enable the use of catalyzed particulate filters, NOx after-treatment, and other advanced emission control technologies for new and retrofitted engines.
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EPA's low sulfur requirements
In 2001, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) adopted a low-sulphur limit for diesel fuel used in on-road motor vehicles, which came into effect in June 2006. The EPA has also proposed extending this low-sulphur requirement to off-road vehicles.
The EPA's low-sulphur requirements are part of their Tier 3 vehicle and fuel regulations, which aim to reduce vehicle emissions. Since January 1, 2017, the EPA has required all US gasoline to meet an annual 10 parts per million (ppm) average sulphur requirement. This standard applies at the refinery gate, where finished gasolines leave the refinery. Individual batches can still have up to 80 ppm of sulphur at the refinery gate and up to 95 ppm downstream.
The Tier 3 program includes a six-year credit averaging, banking, and trading provision. This allows refineries that cannot produce qualifying gasoline to buy credits from other refineries to comply with the Tier 3 requirement. Refineries that produce Tier 3 gasoline with an annual sulphur average below 10 ppm generate these credits.
Ultra-low-sulphur diesel (ULSD) is a type of diesel fuel with significantly reduced sulphur content. ULSD was introduced to enable the use of improved pollution control devices that effectively reduce diesel emissions but can be damaged by sulphur. Since 2006, almost all petroleum-based diesel fuel available in Europe and North America has been ULSD.
As of December 1, 2010, all diesel fuel sold in the US, except in California, must be ULSD, and pumps dispensing ULSD must be labelled as such.
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Exceptions to ULSD requirements
California diesel fuel regulations, which were adopted in 1988 and have been in effect since 1993, set limits on sulfur content (500 parts per million by weight, ppmw). In 2001, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) mandated a low sulfur limit for diesel fuel used in on-road motor vehicles, effective from June 2006. The U.S. EPA also proposed extending this low-sulfur requirement to off-road vehicles.
The proposed amendments to the California diesel fuel regulations would reduce the maximum sulfur content in diesel fuel from 500 ppmw to 15 ppmw, starting in mid-2006. This reduction in sulfur content enables the use of advanced emission control technologies, such as catalyzed particulate filters and NOx after-treatment, for both new and retrofitted engines.
Since 2006, almost all petroleum-based diesel fuel available in North America has been of the Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) type, which contains a maximum of 15 ppm of sulfur. ULSD is defined as diesel fuel with less than 50 ppm of sulfur content.
While the U.S. EPA mandated that all diesel fuel sold in the U.S. must be ULSD from December 1, 2010, California was exempt from this requirement. However, consumers with 2007 or later model-year diesel vehicles should only use ULSD as it allows for the use of improved pollution control devices that reduce diesel emissions more effectively.
There are some exceptions to the ULSD requirements. For instance, in the European Union, the "Euro IV" standard, in place since 2005, specifies a maximum sulfur content of 50 ppm for most highway vehicles. However, ultra-low-sulfur diesel, with a maximum of 10 ppm of sulfur, was required to be available from 2005 and became widely available in 2008. The Euro V fuel standard, implemented in 2009, further reduced the maximum sulfur content to 10 ppm for most non-highway applications. Certain exemptions were expected for specific industries and applications in the EU, but these are being phased out over time.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, California has ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel (ULSD). Since 2006, almost all petroleum-based diesel fuel available in North America has been of the ULSD type.
Ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel is a type of diesel fuel with substantially lowered sulfur content. It is defined as having less than 50ppm or 0.005% sulfur content.
ULSD is a cleaner-burning diesel fuel that allows for the use of improved pollution control devices that reduce diesel emissions more effectively.
