Meeting European Green Deal goals is advantaged with Group II/III base oils According to the 2019 Eurobarometer survey published by the European Commission, 93% of Europeans see climate change as a serious problem. The European Green Deal is backed by proposed climate legislation that converts policy rhetoric into a legal obligation.
Figure 3: Group I production capacity has been steadily declining, while Group II/III base oils have grown in volume and market importance
About 90% of the value of all goods in Europe are transported by truck, and 33% of all energy used in transportation goes to overcoming friction¹. CO2
emissions from Europe’s transport industry are
a significant source of pollution. Good lubricant quality can be part of the solution. With the right formulation, lubricants enhance energy efficiency, reduce emissions, and conserve fuel. The high purity and performance of Group II/III base oils can enable lubricants that help protect both engines and the environment.
It appears that the pandemic has accelerated Group I plant closures
Kline estimates the potential loss of Group I production due to the pandemic could lead to plant closures representing 25% of Europe’s production (~ 1,779 kT). Group I is being replaced by higher performing and more sustainable Group II and Group III base oils, which may lower lubricant blenders’ costs by helping to optimise manufacturing, logistics and inventory.
According to Kline, the consumption of Group II/II+ base stocks will increase from 1.100 kT in 2019 to 1.500 kT in 2029* partly due to the loss of Group I production, the return to pre-COVID demand, growing technical demand and general market evolution.
In effect, Group I, increasingly limited to applications where its solvency is critical, is becoming a specialty product, which represents approximately 8% of the base oil market. Group II is becoming the bedrock base oil for its purity and performance across a broad range of applications and supply reliability.
Reducing exhaust emissions requires lubricants formulated with high purity base oils To help meet Euro 4 emission standards for passenger cars and Euro IV for heavy duty trucks, manufacturers added aftertreatment devices that reduce harmful gases and particulates from the exhaust emissions. These systems need lubricants formulated with very low sulphur base oils to function properly. Since mid-2000, all new vehicles have aftertreatment devices. Subsequent emission categories, such as Euro V & VI, have stricter standards. Consequently, lubricant technology development and qualification has been standardised with Group II/III base oils because they have low sulphur, high VI and low volatility. These lubricants perform well with the older fleets, so there is no incentive to initiate new formulations with Group I base oils.
Group II/II+ base oils can help minimise the use of Group III Tightening specifications to meet climate-change driven initiatives have put a spotlight on Group III/III+ base oils and PAO for formulations that can meet requirements for 0W low viscosity base oils. Today those volumes
1 KennethHolmberg, PeterAndersson, Nils-OlofNylund, KariMäkelä, AliErdemirb, Global energy consumption due to friction in trucks and buses, (Tribology International Volume 78, October 2014), Pages 94-114
Continued on page 12 LUBE MAGAZINE NO.161 FEBRUARY 2021 11
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