The city of Elmshorn will fuel its commercial vehicles with HVO100 in future, using an ORLEN filling station in the town that now offers this climate-friendly diesel. The first refuelling of an Unimog took place in the presence of Elmshorn's lord mayor Volker Hatje and ORLEN Managing Director Dennis Kulbach. By bringing together politics and business at the local level, the two partners are creating joint sustainable action.
HVO100 (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) is an alternative diesel fuel produced from residual and waste materials (vegetable oils) that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90 per cent. In addition, HVO100 burns cleaner and has a positive effect on air quality by reducing pollutant levels. As HVO100 is suitable for most diesel vehicles, commercial vehicles in Elmshorn, such as lorries, various municipal vehicles and construction machinery can run on the alternative diesel without the need for conversion.
‘As a city, we greatly value our cooperation with innovative Elmshorn-based companies such as Orlen,’ emphasises lord mayor Volker Hatje. The HVO100 fuel now available is not only significantly more sustainable, but also cleaner. ‘This primarily benefits our residents, who are exposed to fewer particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions,’ says Hatje. ‘But it will also give our depot a decisive advantage: Thanks to HVO100, our colleagues no longer have to regularly carry out regeneration drives to burn out their diesel vehicles,’ Volker Hatje continues.
‘We are steadily expanding the availability of HVO100 across our fuel station network and are pleased to have the support of political decision-makers in our home city. Together, we can drive the mobility transition forward and further reduce CO₂ emissions,’ says Dariusz Kwieciński, Chief Executive Officer of ORLEN Deutschland GmbH.
‘With HVO100, our customers can drive more sustainably with virtually no technical modifications. At the same time, we are steadily expanding our e-mobility solutions. In this way, we combine immediate CO₂ reductions with a long-term transformation – without compromising on quality or reliability,’ says Dennis Kulbach, Chief Operating Officer of ORLEN Deutschland GmbH.
Another advantage for the city is the convenient billing of fuel purchases for the 23 municipal commercial vehicles via ORLEN Deutschland’s fleet card system.
ORLEN Deutschland already offers HVO100 at six filling stations. Further locations are set to follow in 2025. The biggest challenge lies in providing additional refuelling capacity alongside existing fuels – an investment that ORLEN is consciously making in order to actively shape the path to a more climate-friendly future.
Other ORLEN Group subsidiaries have already started the roll-out of HVO100 sales. In the Czech Republic, the alternative fuel will be available at around ten selected service stations along key transit routes from the turn of the year 2025/2026. In Austria, HVO100 is already offered at three stations. In addition, ORLEN Austria is focusing on strong regional partnerships – for example, it has a cooperation with Austrian Post, which fuels its commercial vehicles with the alternative fuel.
v.l.t.r. Frank Vonmetz Executive Director Supply, Wholesale & Logistics, Dennis Kulbach, COO ORLEN Deutschland, Lord Mayor City of Elmshorn Volker Hatje, Dariusz Kwiecinski, CEO ORLEN Deutschland, Department of Economic Development Elmshorn Angelika von Bargen
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About ORLEN Deutschland GmbH
ORLEN Deutschland GmbH was founded in March 2003. It is a 100 per cent subsidiary of the Polish multi-energy group ORLEN S.A. and part of the international ORLEN Group. The company currently operates over 600 ORLEN and star filling stations on the German market. ORLEN Deutschland GmbH, based in Elmshorn, is one of the ten largest filling station operators in Germany and is involved in a wide range of sports and cultural sponsorship activities (e.g. handball, winter sports, music festivals).
In keeping with the claim “Moving forward together”, ORLEN and star filling stations offer high-quality fuels as well as their own shop products at an attractive price-performance ratio. ORLEN Deutschland is increasingly focussing on the expansion of electromobility offerings, alternative, sustainable fuels and the environmentally friendly use of resources. Customers receive additional services such as car washing, ATM and package services at many stations. Filling stations with 'star café' and 'stop.café’ invite customers to take a break in a feel-good atmosphere and offer coffee specialties throughout the day, a wide selection of food, as well as hot and cold snacks.
ORLEN S.A. further expanded its market position in the DACH region at the beginning of 2024 with the acquisition of Turmöl fuel stations. With over 260 stations, ORLEN has a market share of around 10% in Austria, making it one of the three largest owners of fuel station networks in the country.
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