Austin – October 31, 2026 -- Sabey Data Centers is piloting hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) as the primary fuel in backup generators at its Sabey Data Center Austin (SDC Austin) campus, targeting one of the hardest-to-reduce sources of Scope 1 emissions in data center operations.

HVO runs in existing diesel generators without engine modifications

HVO is a renewable diesel made by hydrotreating vegetable oils and waste fats, including used cooking oil. Because it works as a drop-in replacement, operators can avoid retrofitting backup fleets. The pilot will determine whether the fuel can maintain mission-critical reliability under real-world operating conditions.

Backup generators remain a stubborn Scope 1 emissions source

Backup generators burn little fuel overall, but the fuel they burn counts as Scope 1 emissions, meaning greenhouse gases released directly from sources a company owns or controls. They serve as the safeguard during power outages and emergencies, which limits operators' room to change fuel sources.

Argonne study puts waste-based renewable diesel savings at 79% to 86%

A 2022 peer-reviewed study by the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory found that renewable diesel from waste-based feedstocks cuts lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by 79% to 86% versus petroleum diesel. Crop-based feedstocks deliver reductions of 40% to 69%. Since fuel origin determines the climate benefit, Sabey will track the feedstock behind the HVO it burns.

Sabey plans additional test sites if Austin results hold

If the results support a transition to HVO, Sabey intends to expand testing to additional data center sites where fuel availability and operating conditions allow. Casey Mason, Director of Energy & Sustainability at Sabey Data Centers, described the pilot as a step toward reducing the environmental impact of reliable backup power for surrounding communities.