Katerina Swanson
Diesel fuel is a liquid fuel used in diesel engines, which are a type of internal combustion engine. In Europe, the standard for diesel fuel is EN 590, which has been in place since 1993. Diesel fuel in Europe has been subject to increasingly stringent environmental directives and industry standards, with a particular focus on reducing sulfur content. As of 2016, almost all petroleum-based diesel fuel available in Europe was of the ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) type. B7 Diesel fuel is widespread in Europe and found at every gas station, although it is more expensive than gasoline in about a quarter of European countries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Standard | EN 590 |
| Common Name | Diesel, Diesel Oil, B7 Diesel |
| Type | Liquid Fuel |
| Engine Type | Diesel Engine, a type of internal combustion engine |
| Fuel Type | Petroleum-derived diesel (petrodiesel), biodiesel, biomass to liquid (BTL), gas to liquid (GTL) diesel, synthetic diesel, paraffinic diesel |
| Sulphur Limit | 50 ppm (Euro 4 diesel), 10 ppm (Euro 5 diesel) |
| Cetane Number | 51 |
| FAME Content | 5% (Euro 4), 7% (Euro 5) |
| Biofuel Requirements | Mandatory since 2009 |
| Non-Road Fuel Sulphur Limit | 10 ppm since 2011 |
| Climate Grades | 6 Temperature Climate Grades (Grade A to F) |
| Arctic Classes | 5 Classes (Class 0 to 4) |
| Sulphur Limit in Marine Fuels | 0.5% by 2020 |
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What You'll Learn
Diesel fuel types in Europe
Diesel fuel is any liquid fuel designed for use in a diesel engine, which is a type of internal combustion engine. Diesel fuel needs good compression ignition characteristics. The most common type of diesel fuel is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil, but non-petroleum alternatives such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), or gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel are also available. In many countries, diesel fuel is standardised.
In the European Union, the standard for diesel fuel is EN 590. This standard was introduced in 1999 and reflected a maximum sulfur limit of 350 ppm and a cetane number of 51. This was updated in 2004 to reduce the sulfur limit to 50 ppm (Euro 4) and then to 10 ppm (Euro 5). The latest update to the standard, in 2009, introduced a mandatory biofuel requirement for refiners.
In addition to the EN 590 standard, there are six Temperature Climate Grades of diesel fuel (Grade A–F) and five Arctic Classes of diesel fuel (Class 0–4), as outlined in the EN 590:1999 standard. These classes differ in their Cold Filter Plugging Point (CFPP) values and are used in countries with colder climates.
The term “gas oil” is used in EU regulatory language to describe a wide range of fuels, including diesel fuels for on-road vehicles, fuels for non-road vehicles, and other distillate fuels. Diesel fuel is a subcategory of gas oil, specifically referring to gas oils used for self-propelling vehicles.
B7 Diesel fuel is widespread in Europe and can be found at every gas station. In about a quarter of European countries, B7 Diesel fuel is more expensive than gasoline.
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Diesel fuel prices
In the EU, "gas oil" is a term used to describe a wide range of fuels, including diesel for on-road vehicles, and fuels for non-road vehicles, such as mobile machinery. Diesel fuel is a subcategory of gas oil. Diesel fuel for on-road applications has a CN (Combined Nomenclature) code of 2710 19 41. Gas oils for non-road mobile machinery can have a CN code of either 2710 19 41 or 2710 19 45, depending on the sulfur level.
The EU has implemented several fuel quality improvement initiatives, leading to the region-wide supply of gasoline and diesel fuel with near-zero sulfur content. Since 2009, diesel fuel for on-road vehicles has been limited to 10 ppm sulfur, while non-road vehicle diesel fuels have been limited to the same level since 2011.
The EU has also introduced standards for diesel fuel grades, with the EN 590 standard specifying six Temperature Climate Grades (Grade A-F) with different Cold Filter Plugging Point (CFPP) values. There are also five Arctic Classes of diesel fuel (Class 0-4), which have different properties. Each country can detail requirements for summer and winter grades and may also include intermediate or regional grades depending on national climate conditions.
In recent years, there has been a push to further reduce sulfur content in diesel fuels. In 2012, the European Parliament approved a proposal to implement new general limits for sulfur in marine fuels by 2020, reducing the limit from 3.5% to 0.5%.
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Diesel fuel standards
In 1993, the first set of CEN standards for automotive fuels were voluntary, but all fuel suppliers in Europe complied. These standards were periodically updated to reflect changes in specifications, such as the mandatory reductions in sulfur content.
Directive 98/70/EC, effective 1 January 2000, introduced a maximum sulfur limit of 350 ppm and a cetane number of 51 for diesel fuel in road vehicles. This standard was referred to as Euro 3 diesel. EN 590:1999 reflected these specifications and included six Temperature Climate Grades (Grade A to F) and five Arctic Classes of diesel fuel.
Subsequent directives further reduced sulfur limits in diesel fuel. Directive 2003/17/EC, effective 1 January 2005, introduced a maximum sulfur limit of 50 ppm (Euro 4 diesel) and 10 ppm (Euro 5 diesel). From 2008, the sulfur content in non-road vehicle fuels was limited to 1000 ppm, further reduced to 10 ppm in 2011.
In 2009, the Fuel Quality Directive aimed to reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of transport fuels by 6% by 2020. This directive also introduced mandatory biofuel requirements and FAME content regulations. The EN 590:2009 standard specified a FAME content of 7%.
In 2012, the European Parliament approved new general limits for sulfur in marine fuels, aiming for a maximum sulfur limit of 0.5% in European seas by 2020. This brought European legislation in line with the limits agreed upon by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
The latest diesel fuel standards in Europe continue to focus on reducing emissions and improving fuel quality, ensuring compatibility with engines and aftertreatment systems.
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Sulphur limits in diesel
In the European Union, the "Euro IV" standard has been in place since 2005, specifying a maximum of 50 parts per million (ppm) of sulfur in diesel fuel for most highway vehicles. From 2005, ultra-low-sulfur diesel with a maximum of 10 ppm of sulfur had to be made available, and it was widely available by 2008.
In 2009, the Euro V fuel standard came into effect, reducing the maximum sulfur content to 10 ppm. This applied to diesel fuel for most non-highway applications as well. From 2009 onwards, diesel fuel for on-road vehicles in the EU has been limited to 10 ppm sulfur, with non-road vehicles following suit in 2011.
The EU's fuel quality improvement initiatives have resulted in a region-wide supply of both gasoline and diesel fuel with near-zero sulfur content. The first set of standards for automotive fuels in 1993 were voluntary, but all fuel suppliers in Europe complied with them. Since then, the EU has continually strengthened its sulfur limits in diesel fuel, with the Euro 3 standard in 2000 allowing 350 ppm, the Euro 4 standard in 2005 allowing 50 ppm, and the Euro 5 standard in 2009 allowing just 10 ppm.
In 2012, the European Parliament approved a proposal to implement new general limits for sulfur in marine fuels by 2020. This brought the sulfur limit for fuels in European seas down from 3.5% to 0.5% by 2020. Fuels used in the Baltic Sea, North Sea, and English Channel, which are Europe's sulfur emission control areas, had to meet the even stricter standard of 0.1% by 2015.
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Diesel fuel production
Diesel fuel, or fuel oil, is a distillate fraction of crude oil. Diesel fuel is produced in three steps: distillation, conversion, and clean-up. Diesel fuel contains more non-volatile components than gasoline and has a higher boiling range, between 150 °C and 380 °C. Diesel fuel is blended from several refinery streams, mostly from the primary distillation unit. In a conversion refinery, components from other units, such as cracking processes, are used to increase diesel fuel production. Gasoils are the main blending components for diesel fuel production. Gasoils from hydrocrackers have better ignition quality properties than gasoils from thermal and catalytic cracking.
In the EU, the term “gas oil” is used to describe a wide range of fuels, including diesel fuels for on-road vehicles, fuels for non-road vehicles, and other distillate fuels. Diesel fuel is a subcategory of gas oil. Diesel fuel for on-road applications has a CN (Combined Nomenclature) code of 2710 19 41. Gas oils for non-road mobile machinery can have a CN code of either 2710 19 41 or 2710 19 45, depending on the sulfur level.
The EU has implemented several directives to regulate the quality of diesel fuel. For example, the EN 590 standard specifies six Temperature Climate Grades of diesel fuel (Grade A to F) with different Cold Filter Plugging Point (CFPP) values. There are also five Arctic Classes of diesel fuel (Class 0 to 4) with different properties. In terms of sulfur content, the EU has gradually reduced the maximum allowable limit in diesel fuel over the years. Since 2009, diesel fuel for on-road vehicles has been limited to 10 ppm sulfur, while non-road vehicles followed suit in 2011. More recently, the EU has adopted mandatory biofuel requirements for refiners, with a 10 ppm S limit in non-road fuels effective from 2011.
In the United States, most of the diesel fuel consumed is produced domestically by petroleum refineries. The U.S. refineries can produce an average of 11 to 12 gallons of diesel fuel from each 42-gallon barrel of crude oil. The diesel fuel produced and consumed in the U.S. is primarily ultra-low sulfur distillate (ULSD) with a sulfur content of 15 parts per million or less. Biomass-based diesel fuels, such as biodiesel and renewable diesel, also contribute to the country's diesel fuel supply.
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Frequently asked questions
The standard diesel fuel used in Europe is EN 590. This standard was introduced in 1999 and has been in use in the European Union ever since.
The most common type of diesel fuel in Europe is petroleum-derived diesel, also known as petrodiesel. However, alternative types of diesel fuel that are not derived from petroleum, such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), and gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel, are becoming increasingly common.
Rapeseed oil, also known as rapeseed methyl ester (RME), is the most common biodiesel feedstock in Europe.
