The Value of Acquiring Biodiesel from a BQ-9000 Supplier

By Scott Fenwick, Technical Director
Published in SIGMA IGM | July/August Issue

In today’s rapidly evolving transportation and energy landscape, fuel quality is non-negotiable. As biodiesel continues to scale as a mainstream, reliable solution for reducing carbon emissions in hard-to-electrify sectors, one key factor remains central to its adoption: trust. That’s where the BQ-9000® program comes into play.

BQ-9000 is the biodiesel industry’s gold standard as a quality management system, and it’s not just a name—it’s a rigorous accreditation that gives original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), fleets, and fuel distributors the confidence they need. Administered by the National Biodiesel Accreditation Commission and supported by Clean Fuels Alliance America, the BQ-9000 program integrates ASTM standards, including ASTM D6751 and others, with best practices in storage, sampling, testing, blending, and distribution.

For OEMs, knowing that a fuel supplier or producer is BQ-9000 accredited is more than a reassurance, it’s a prerequisite in many cases. Dozens of engine and vehicle manufacturers now reference BQ-9000 in their owner’s manuals, service recommendations, and warranties. Why? Because they’ve seen the data. Every year, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) helps conduct an extensive survey of biodiesel quality across North America. The annual report consistently shows that BQ-9000-accredited producers outperform industry standards when it comes to delivering clean, spec-compliant biodiesel that protects engines, upholds performance standards, and provides the performance that fleets and consumers expect in today’s sophisticated engines.

This alignment between quality accreditation and measurable performance is why Clean Fuels is investing in even more transparency and accessibility. We’re proud to share that the BQ-9000 website has recently been refreshed and relaunched, offering a user-friendly interface where stakeholders can easily verify whether a producer, marketer, or laboratory is accredited. It’s a valuable tool for fleets, mechanics, OEMs, and fuel buyers because making the right choice shouldn’t require a deep dive into technical data sheets.

Fuel marketers who carry the BQ-9000 designation position themselves with a competitive edge, offering a product that not only meets customer demands for performance and sustainability but also aligns with OEM warranty and operational requirements. This is true whether the fuel being consumed is used within the on-road, off-road, marine, rail, or heating oil markets.

When fleets use BQ-9000-accredited biodiesel, they know they’re fueling with confidence. When OEMs approve
blends at B20 and beyond, they’re doing so based on years of consistent, credible results tied directly to accredited fuel sources. When communities demand cleaner air and lower carbon emissions, biodiesel delivers with quality at the core. In the clean fuels industry, performance and trust go hand in hand. The BQ-9000 program ensures both.

Clean Fuels and industry experts encourage fuel consumers to ask their fuel suppliers about the source of the biodiesel that is blended into their fuels. Participation and additional details regarding each approved facility within the Producer, Marketer, and Laboratory programs, along with links to their current certificates, can be found on the BQ-9000 website.

Learn more and verify the accreditation status at www.BQ-9000.org.

ABOUT CLEAN FUELS ALLIANCE AMERICA

Made from an increasingly diverse mix of resources such as recycled cooking oil, soybean oil, and animal fats, the clean fuels industry is a proven, integral part of America’s clean energy future. Clean Fuels Alliance America is the U.S. trade association representing the entire biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel supply chain, including producers, feedstock suppliers and fuel distributors. Clean Fuels receives funding from a broad mix of private companies and associations, including the United Soybean Board and state checkoff organizations.