Renewable diesel and biodiesel are both made from fats, oils and greases, and they are not the same fuel. Biodiesel is a methyl ester that the ASTM D975 diesel specification allows only up to 5 percent of a blend, and up to 20 percent under D7467. Renewable diesel is a hydrocarbon that meets D975 by itself and can replace petroleum diesel at any share. In 2025 US biofuel plants produced 192 thousand barrels a day of renewable diesel and 75 of biodiesel, and renewable diesel has been the larger of the two since 2023.
Renewable diesel plant output grew 3.4 times between 2021 and 2025 and reached 255 thousand barrels a day in July 2026, while biodiesel fell from a 121 thousand barrel a day peak in 2018 to 75 in 2025. Nearly all the renewable diesel went to one state, California, where the DOE ties demand to the Low Carbon Fuel Standard.
Two molecules from the same barrel of soybean oil
Both fuels start with lipids: soybean and canola oil, used cooking oil, animal fat. What happens next differs. Biodiesel is made by transesterification, in which the triglycerides in the oil react with an alcohol, usually methanol, to produce methyl esters and glycerin. The DOE describes the result as methyl esters of C12 to C22 fatty acids. Those molecules still contain oxygen, which is why biodiesel behaves differently from petroleum diesel in storage, in cold weather and in elastomer seals. Renewable diesel is made by hydrotreating the lipids with hydrogen at high temperature and pressure over a catalyst, which strips the oxygen and leaves paraffinic hydrocarbons in the C8 to C25 range, the same family as petroleum diesel.
Table 1. Diesel, biodiesel and renewable diesel on the DOE property sheet
| Property | Low-sulfur diesel | Biodiesel | Renewable diesel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical structure | Hydrocarbons, C8 to C25 | Methyl esters of C12 to C22 fatty acids | Hydrocarbons, C8 to C25 |
| Feedstock | Crude oil | Soybean and other oils, waste cooking oil, animal fats, rapeseed | Fats, oils and greases, including used cooking oil |
| ASTM specification | D975 | D6751 (B100); D7467 (B6 to B20) | D975 |
| Lower heating value (Btu per gallon) | 128,488 | B100 119,550; B20 126,700 | 123,710 |
| Energy relative to a diesel gallon | 100% | B100 93%; B20 99% | RD100 96% |
| Cetane number | 40 to 55 | 45 to 65 | 70 to 85 |
| Flash point | 165 F | 266 to 338 F | Above 125.6 F |
| Blend limit in diesel | n/a | B5 in D975 diesel with no label; B6 to B20 under D7467 | Any amount, per DOE |
Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Alternative Fuels Data Center, Fuel Properties Comparison, Biodiesel Blends and Renewable Diesel pages, checked October 23, 2026. Lower heating values are DOE figures; the DGE column is DOE's diesel gallon equivalent. Cetane and flash point are the ranges DOE lists.
Three rows are worth reading closely. Renewable diesel's cetane range of 70 to 85 sits well above the 40 to 55 listed for petroleum diesel, and above biodiesel's 45 to 65. Biodiesel's energy content falls with its blend share, down 7% for B100 and only 1% for B20, which is why the DOE says engines on B20 have similar fuel consumption, horsepower and torque. And renewable diesel sits at 123,710 Btu a gallon, 4,160 above B100 and 4,778 below diesel, close enough that the federal formula for credits uses a Btu threshold as its test, a point that returns in the policy section.
What the engine and the pump allow
The DOE and ASTM draw the practical lines. ASTM D975 lets fuel with up to 5 percent biodiesel be sold simply as diesel, and the DOE says low-level blends such as B5 are ASTM-approved for any compression-ignition engine designed for petroleum diesel, from light trucks to tractors, boats and generators. B20 is the common middle blend because, in the DOE's words, it balances cost, cold-weather performance and compatibility; it must meet D7467, and many engine makers approve it, but the engine warranty statement is the document that decides. B100 is rarely used directly: it has a solvent effect that can clog filters in the first tanks after a switch, it gels in cold temperatures, it needs compatible hoses and gaskets, and the DOE warns it can raise nitrogen oxide emissions.
Renewable diesel faces none of these limits in the specification. The DOE says it can replace diesel or be blended with petroleum diesel in any proportion, and that it meets D975 but not the minimum density of EN 590, Europe's petroleum diesel standard (the DOE gives it as 0.820), a difference that matters for trade rather than for a US tank. This is the central practical difference: biodiesel is a blend component with a ceiling, and renewable diesel is a fuel. For a home heating tank, where the relevant blend is biodiesel in No. 2 oil, the comparison is made in the heating oil versus diesel guide; this page deals with the transport fuels.
What the biodiesel standards test
The ASTM specifications read like a lab checklist, and they show where biodiesel is delicate. The pure-fuel standard, D6751, and the blend standard, D7467, set different limits because the blend is mostly petroleum diesel.
Table 1a. Selected requirements: B100 (ASTM D6751) against B6 to B20 (ASTM D7467)
| Property | B100 (D6751) | B6 to B20 (D7467) |
|---|---|---|
| Sulfur | 15 ppm (grades S15) or 500 ppm (S500) | 15 ppm (S15), 0.05% mass (S500) or 0.50% (S5000) |
| Flash point, minimum | 93 C (130 C if the alcohol limit is met by flash point) | 52 C (38 C with No. 1-D diesel) |
| Cetane number, minimum | 45 | 40 |
| Oxidation stability, minimum | 3 hours | 6 hours |
| Acid number, maximum | 0.50 mg KOH/g | 0.3 mg KOH/g |
| Kinematic viscosity at 40 C | 1.9 to 6.0 mm²/s | 1.9 to 4.1 mm²/s |
| Distillation, 90% recovered | 360 C maximum | 343 C maximum |
| Water and sediment, maximum | 0.050% volume | 0.05% volume |
| Cold soak filterability, maximum | 200 s (No. 1-B) or 360 s (No. 2-B) | Not listed |
| Lubricity (HFRR at 60 C), maximum | Not listed | 520 micrometres |
| Cloud point | Report | Agreed between supplier and purchaser |
Source: DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center, ASTM Biodiesel Specifications (selected requirements from ASTM D6751 and D7467), checked October 23, 2026. The standards are updated routinely and the full texts are sold by ASTM; use the current edition for any contract.
Two rows matter to a user. B100 must show 3 hours of oxidation stability and a blend only 6, a reminder that the ester itself ages faster than diesel, and the reason the DOE lists storage among the considerations for high-level blends. And for cold weather the blend standard says plainly that it is unrealistic to specify low-temperature properties that ensure satisfactory operation in all conditions: the cloud point or low-temperature test limit is left to the supplier and the buyer, with flow improvers an option. That is the standard's own way of saying there is no universal winter number for a B20, so the figure that counts is the one on the delivery ticket for the batch actually bought.
How much each is made, 2011 to 2025
The EIA counts biofuel production at plants separately from the barrels that refineries and blenders put into the fuel supply. Plant output is the cleanest measure of capacity actually used.
Table 2. U.S. biofuels plant net production, annual average (thousand barrels a day)
| Year | Biodiesel | Renewable diesel | Renewable diesel as a share of the two |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 62.8 | not collected | n/a |
| 2012 | 64.4 | not collected | n/a |
| 2013 | 88.7 | not collected | n/a |
| 2014 | 83.2 | not collected | n/a |
| 2015 | 82.5 | not collected | n/a |
| 2016 | 101.8 | not collected | n/a |
| 2017 | 103.9 | not collected | n/a |
| 2018 | 121.0 | not collected | n/a |
| 2019 | 112.6 | not collected | n/a |
| 2020 | 118.0 | not collected | n/a |
| 2021 | 111.3 | 56.1 | 33% |
| 2022 | 106.0 | 97.8 | 48% |
| 2023 | 110.8 | 169.4 | 60% |
| 2024 | 108.7 | 207.7 | 66% |
| 2025 | 74.8 | 192.1 | 72% |
Source: EIA, U.S. Biofuels Plant Net Production of Biodiesel (M_EPOORDB_YNP_NUS_MBBLD, from January 2011) and of Renewable Diesel Fuel (M_EPOORDO_YNP_NUS_MBBLD, from January 2021), mean of twelve monthly values, from the EIA petroleum bulk data file (series updated September 30, 2026), checked October 23, 2026. January to July 2026 averages 93.9 for biodiesel and 215.9 for renewable diesel. Renewable diesel was collected under other series before 2021; those are refinery and blender inputs, not plant output.
Biodiesel grew from 63 thousand barrels a day in 2011 to a plateau near 121, then fell to 75 in 2025, the lowest since 2012. Renewable diesel went from 56 in 2021 to 208 in 2024, passing biodiesel in 2023. The EIA tied the first-quarter 2025 dip, which took biodiesel to an average of 68 thousand barrels a day for the quarter and 60 in January, to uncertainty over federal biofuel tax credits and to negative profit margins (Today in Energy, June 4, 2025). By July 2026 monthly output had recovered to 110 for biodiesel and 255 for renewable diesel.
Month by month since the 2025 dip
Table 2a. Monthly plant production, December 2024 to July 2026 (thousand barrels a day)
| Month | Biodiesel | Renewable diesel | Biodiesel change from December 2024 | Renewable diesel change from December 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 109 | 222 | 0 | 0 |
| January 2025 | 60 | 175 | -49 | -47 |
| February 2025 | 69 | 159 | -40 | -63 |
| March 2025 | 76 | 179 | -33 | -43 |
| April 2025 | 83 | 178 | -26 | -44 |
| May 2025 | 77 | 202 | -32 | -20 |
| June 2025 | 78 | 208 | -31 | -14 |
| July 2025 | 80 | 201 | -29 | -21 |
| August 2025 | 83 | 183 | -26 | -39 |
| September 2025 | 82 | 215 | -27 | -7 |
| October 2025 | 76 | 207 | -33 | -15 |
| November 2025 | 69 | 202 | -40 | -20 |
| December 2025 | 65 | 196 | -44 | -26 |
| January 2026 | 70 | 151 | -39 | -71 |
| February 2026 | 84 | 168 | -25 | -54 |
| March 2026 | 88 | 207 | -21 | -15 |
| April 2026 | 95 | 227 | -14 | +5 |
| May 2026 | 99 | 245 | -10 | +23 |
| June 2026 | 111 | 258 | +2 | +36 |
| July 2026 | 110 | 255 | +1 | +33 |
Source: EIA, U.S. Biofuels Plant Net Production of Biodiesel (M_EPOORDB_YNP_NUS_MBBLD) and Renewable Diesel Fuel (M_EPOORDO_YNP_NUS_MBBLD), monthly, from the EIA petroleum bulk data file (series updated September 30, 2026), checked October 23, 2026. Changes are this page's subtraction.
Biodiesel output fell 49 thousand barrels a day between December 2024 and January 2025, a drop of 45% in a month, and stayed between 65 and 83 through the rest of 2025. It climbed back to 111 by June 2026, within 2 of its December 2024 level. Renewable diesel dipped to 151 thousand barrels a day in January 2026, then reached 258 in June 2026, the highest month in the stretch. The shapes differ: biodiesel took a step down and a slow climb, while renewable diesel moved in a band of about 107 thousand barrels a day around a rising trend.
Capacity built against capacity used
The growth in renewable diesel is a construction story. The EIA's capacity series for renewable diesel and other biofuels rose from 863 million gallons a year in January 2021 to 5,014 in December 2025, while biodiesel capacity fell from 2,395 to 1,958. Comparing plant output with capacity gives a rough utilization rate.
Table 3. Production capacity at December, and plants' average output as a share of it
| Year | Renewable diesel and other biofuels capacity (million gallons a year) | Renewable diesel output (million gallons a year) | Output / capacity | Biodiesel capacity (million gallons a year) | Biodiesel output (million gallons a year) | Output / capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,106 | 860 | 78% | 2,245 | 1,707 | 76% |
| 2022 | 2,939 | 1,500 | 51% | 2,090 | 1,625 | 78% |
| 2023 | 3,857 | 2,597 | 67% | 2,073 | 1,698 | 82% |
| 2024 | 4,718 | 3,184 | 67% | 1,995 | 1,666 | 84% |
| 2025 | 5,014 | 2,945 | 59% | 1,958 | 1,147 | 59% |
Source: EIA, Renewable Diesel and Other Biofuels Production Capacity (M_EPOOROO_8BDPC_NUS_MMGL) and Biodiesel Production Capacity (M_EPOORDB_8BDPC_NUS_MMGL), monthly, December values; production from Table 2 converted at 42 gallons a barrel and 365 days. The renewable diesel capacity series includes other biofuels, so the ratio understates utilization of renewable diesel alone. Output / capacity compares a full-year average with a December capacity and is this page's arithmetic.
Renewable diesel capacity multiplied 4.5 times in four years while output multiplied 3.4, and the ratio was 51% in 2022, 67% in 2023, 67% in 2024 and 59% in 2025. Biodiesel plants ran at 84% of capacity in 2024 and 59% in 2025. Both fuels therefore ended 2025 with idle capacity. The figures are rough, since December capacity and annual output do not measure the same thing, but the scale of the gap is the finding.
The geography of use
Where renewable diesel is made and where it is used are different questions. The EIA reports plant production by region and product supplied (what is delivered to users) by region.
Table 4. Renewable diesel: plant production and product supplied by region (thousand barrels a day, annual average)
| Year | Gulf Coast (PADD 3) production | West Coast (PADD 5) production | Midwest and Rocky Mountain production | U.S. production | U.S. product supplied | West Coast product supplied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 103.1 | 34.3 | 31.9 | 169.4 | 175.3 | 115.0 |
| 2024 | 108.4 | 65.0 | 34.3 | 207.7 | 227.8 | 179.8 |
| 2025 | 76.9 | 80.4 | 34.7 | 192.1 | 148.3 | 149.7 |
Source: EIA, Biofuels Plant Net Production of Renewable Diesel Fuel by PADD (M_EPOORDO_YNP_R30, R50, R20 and R40_MBBLD) and Product Supplied of Renewable Diesel Fuel (M_EPOORDO_VPP_NUS and R50_MBBLD), monthly, annual means, checked October 23, 2026. Regional production series begin in 2023. East Coast production is not listed separately.
West Coast product supplied was 150 thousand barrels a day in 2025 against 148 for the nation, which is possible because the EIA derives product supplied for each region separately and the other regions can show negative values: in 2025 the Midwest averaged -8.3, the East Coast -0.1, the Gulf Coast 3.4 and the Rocky Mountain region 3.5. The Gulf Coast, which made 103 thousand barrels a day in 2023 and 108 in 2024, made 77 in 2025, while the West Coast rose from 34 to 65 to 80. The DOE's explanation is the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, which pays for lower-carbon fuel sold in California; its page lists the plants, with the largest in Louisiana (Norco, Geismar) and several converted petroleum refineries in the western states. For California's fuel supply as a whole see the California gasoline guide and the diesel prices guide.
Trade turned around in 2025
The United States was a net importer of renewable diesel through 2024 (34 thousand barrels a day in that year) and a net exporter in 2025 (32 thousand barrels a day, with exports of 41). Product supplied of renewable diesel fell from 228 thousand barrels a day in 2024 to 148 in 2025, a drop of 79, while production fell by only 16. The remaining 64 thousand barrels a day is close to the 66 thousand barrel swing in net trade, from 34 net imports to 32 net exports: the domestic market took less renewable diesel in 2025 and plants sold part of the difference abroad. Biodiesel followed the same direction: net imports of 16 thousand barrels a day in 2024 became net exports of 3.
The plants behind the numbers
The DOE keeps a list of US renewable diesel plants with their capacity, and it shows how concentrated the industry is. The 16 plants on the list total 2,856 million gallons a year, and the two Louisiana plants, Norco and Geismar, are 51% of it.
Table 3a. U.S. renewable diesel plants on the DOE list, by capacity (million gallons a year)
| Operator | Plant | State | Capacity | Share of list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond Green Diesel | Norco | LA | 982 | 34.4% |
| Chevron Renewable Energy Group | Geismar | LA | 470 | 16.5% |
| Marathon Petroleum | Martinez | CA | 260 | 9.1% |
| Marathon Petroleum | Dickinson | ND | 184 | 6.4% |
| Montana Renewables | Calumet | MT | 175 | 6.1% |
| HF Sinclair | Artesia | NM | 125 | 4.4% |
| Phillips 66 | Rodeo | CA | 120 | 4.2% |
| HF Sinclair | Sinclair | WY | 117 | 4.1% |
| CVR Energy | Wynnewood | OK | 100 | 3.5% |
| HF Sinclair | Cheyenne | WY | 90 | 3.2% |
| Seaboard Energy | Hugoton | KS | 85 | 3.0% |
| BP Products North America | Blaine | WA | 66 | 2.3% |
| World Energy | Paramount | CA | 42 | 1.5% |
| Chevron Renewable Energy Group | El Segundo | CA | 31 | 1.1% |
| Kern Oil & Refining | Bakersfield | CA | 6 | 0.2% |
| East Agri-Energy | Gannett | KS | 3 | 0.1% |
Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Alternative Fuels Data Center, Renewable Diesel (plant list; total 2,856 million gallons a year), checked October 23, 2026. Shares are this page's arithmetic. The page says additional large plants were expected through 2024, so the list may not reflect plants started or expanded since.
By state the list runs LA 1,452, CA 459, WY 207, ND 184, MT 175, NM 125, OK 100, KS 88, WA 66. California holds only 16% of the list (459 million gallons), yet West Coast plants made 42% of 2025 output in the EIA data (Table 4), and West Coast demand took nearly all of it, so the list is a guide to concentration and not a current census. The EIA's own capacity series for renewable diesel and other biofuels stood at 5,014 million gallons a year in December 2025, 2,158 above this list, which gives the scale of what a dated plant list leaves out. For the refinery conversions behind several of these entries, see the refinery capacity guide.
What policy pays per gallon
The market explains less than the credits do. Two federal and state programs set the value of a gallon, and each treats the two fuels differently.
Table 5. Renewable Fuel Standard equivalence values and what they imply for RINs per gallon
| Fuel | Equivalence value | Test in the rule | Gallon-RINs per 1,000 gallons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biodiesel | 1.5 | Assigned to biodiesel | 1,500 |
| Non-ester renewable diesel | 1.7 | Lower heating value of at least 123,500 Btu per gallon | 1,700 |
| Ratio, renewable diesel to biodiesel | 1.13 | Computed | Ratio, not a RIN count |
Source: 40 CFR 80.1415(b) (Renewable Fuel Standard equivalence values) on eCFR, checked October 23, 2026; the number of RINs generated for a gallon follows the equivalence value under 40 CFR 80.1426. The ratio row is this page's arithmetic; RIN prices are not used.
A gallon of renewable diesel that meets the heating-value threshold generates 1.7 gallon-RINs and a gallon of biodiesel 1.5, so renewable diesel earns 13% more compliance credits per gallon before any price is applied. The DOE's listed heating value for renewable diesel, 123,710 Btu a gallon, clears the 123,500 threshold by only 210. That is the sense in which a physical property sets the federal value of the fuel. The California program adds a carbon-intensity-based credit that this guide does not price, because credit prices move week to week; the DOE attributes renewable diesel's concentration in California to that program.
What it costs at the pump
The DOE's Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report publishes a national average for biodiesel next to diesel. Its latest edition covers July 1 to 15, 2026.
Table 6. Retail prices, price per million Btu and the price that would match diesel, July 1 to 15, 2026
| Fuel | Price per gallon | Lower heating value (Btu per gallon) | Dollars per million Btu | Price per gallon that would equal diesel per Btu |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel | $4.86 | 128,488 | $37.82 | $4.86 |
| Biodiesel B20 | $4.76 | 126,700 | $37.57 | $4.79 |
| Biodiesel B99 to B100 | $5.42 | 119,550 | $45.34 | $4.52 |
| Renewable diesel | not in the DOE report | 123,710 | n/a | $4.68 |
Sources: DOE Clean Cities and Communities, Alternative Fuel Price Report, July 2026 (national average, July 1 to 15, 2026), via the AFDC Fuel Prices page; lower heating values from the AFDC Fuel Properties Comparison, checked October 23, 2026. Dollars per million Btu and the matching price (diesel price times the fuel's heating value divided by diesel's) are this page's arithmetic. The report does not list renewable diesel, so its row shows only the price at which it would break even with diesel on energy. Retail prices are a snapshot; fleets buying under contract pay less.
B20 sold $0.10 under diesel per gallon, and $0.26 under it per million Btu, so on these national averages the blend carried a small discount; its actual price of $4.76 was $0.03 below the $4.79 at which it would have matched diesel on energy. B100 at $5.42 was $0.56 over diesel per gallon and $7.51 over per million Btu, against a matching price of $4.52, which is part of why the DOE says it is rarely used as a transportation fuel. The report lists no renewable diesel price, but the table says what one would have to be: any renewable diesel delivered below $4.68 a gallon would be cheaper than diesel at $4.86 per unit of heat, because it carries 3.7% less energy per gallon. The national average hides the biggest variable: the DOE notes that alternative fuel prices fluctuate by location and time of year, and a fleet buying in volume under contract can pay materially less than the retail snapshot. Prices, credits and plant lists change month to month; for a vehicle, boiler or fleet decision the engine maker fuel specification and the supplier certificate of analysis govern, and this guide supplies the market context.
Renewable diesel and biodiesel questions
Is renewable diesel the same as biodiesel?
No. Renewable diesel is a hydrocarbon, made mostly by hydrotreating fats, oils and greases, and it meets the same ASTM D975 specification as petroleum diesel. Biodiesel is a fatty acid methyl ester made by transesterification, and it meets ASTM D6751 as a blendstock. The DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center treats them as different fuels with different blend rules.
Can I put renewable diesel in a regular diesel engine?
The DOE says renewable diesel can be used as a replacement fuel or blended with any amount of petroleum diesel, because it meets ASTM D975. Engine makers set their own approvals and warranty terms, so the owner's manual and the engine maker's fuel statement govern for any particular engine.
How much biodiesel can go in a diesel tank?
ASTM D975 allows up to 5 percent biodiesel (B5) in fuel sold as diesel, with no separate pump label. Blends from 6 to 20 percent (B6 to B20) must meet ASTM D7467, and pure biodiesel (B100) must meet D6751. The DOE notes that many engine makers approve B20 and that users should check the engine warranty statement first.
Which has more energy per gallon?
Neither matches petroleum diesel. On the DOE's lower heating values, diesel is 128,488 Btu per gallon, renewable diesel 123,710 (96% of a diesel gallon equivalent), B20 126,700 and B100 119,550 (93%).
Why is most US renewable diesel used in California?
The DOE reports that nearly all domestically produced and imported renewable diesel is used in California because of the economics of the state's Low Carbon Fuel Standard. EIA data agree on the geography: in 2025 the West Coast (PADD 5) supplied 150 thousand barrels a day of renewable diesel, more than the national total of 148, because regional product supplied is derived separately and the Midwest showed a negative figure.
Is renewable diesel or biodiesel produced in larger volumes in the US?
Renewable diesel since 2023. In 2025 US biofuel plants produced 192 thousand barrels a day of renewable diesel and 75 of biodiesel (EIA, biofuels plant net production). Biodiesel production peaked near 121 thousand barrels a day in the 2010s and 2020s.
Does biodiesel or renewable diesel cost more at the pump?
On the DOE's July 2026 national averages, B20 cost $4.76 a gallon and B99 to B100 $5.42, against $4.86 for diesel. The DOE price report does not list renewable diesel, which is mostly sold into a California market with its own credit-driven pricing.
Data and sources: U.S. Department of Energy, Alternative Fuels Data Center, Renewable Diesel, Biodiesel Blends, ASTM Biodiesel Specifications, Fuel Properties Comparison and Fuel Prices (Alternative Fuel Price Report, July 2026), checked October 23, 2026. EIA petroleum series for biodiesel and renewable diesel production, capacity, product supplied, exports and net imports, from the EIA petroleum bulk data file (series updated September 30, 2026), checked October 23, 2026. EIA, Today in Energy, June 4, 2025 (first-quarter 2025 biodiesel and renewable diesel production), checked October 23, 2026. 40 CFR 80.1415 (equivalence values), checked October 23, 2026. ASTM D975, D6751 and D7467 are cited through the DOE summaries; the standards themselves are not public. Conversions, shares, utilization ratios and per-equivalent prices are this page's arithmetic.