Data centers across Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina are going green by using a more sustainable diesel fuel throughout the construction and ongoing operations. Renewable diesel is a drop-in replacement for petroleum diesel that works in your existing heavy equipment and generators with zero modifications, cuts greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%, and performs better in storage than biodiesel. Walthall Oil Company has provided renewable diesel throughout the Southeast for years and has the infrastructure for reliable delivery to data centers of any size throughout the region. If your fuel source is still traditional diesel, now is the time to talk to Walthall, a leading fuel partner who understands renewable diesel inside and out.

 

Key Takeaways

• Walthall Oil Company has supplied operators with renewable diesel for years, long before the recent spike in data center construction and operations. We know the viability and impact of using renewable diesel, as well as the logistics necessary to ensure your on-site supply remains stocked.
• Walthall’s warehouse network across Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina means we can provide renewable diesel to your site on the same dependable schedule as your standard fuel deliveries.
• Renewable diesel is a drop-in fuel that meets the same ASTM D975 specification as petroleum diesel. It runs in your existing standby generators with no engine modifications and no changes to fuel delivery infrastructure.
• Renewable diesel cuts emissions significantly, reducing greenhouse gas and other emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional diesel, depending on feedstock. It also lowers particulate matter, NOx, and hydrocarbons.
• Renewable diesel outperforms biodiesel in storage and cold weather. Renewable diesel resists oxidation, water absorption, and microbial growth better than biodiesel and stays fluid at much lower temperatures. This option is a better long-term fit for generators that sit idle for months at a time.
• The Southeast’s data center market continues to grow. In fact, Georgia alone hosts more than 200 data center facilities, with metro Atlanta’s market posting vacancy rates near 1-2% amid record construction. Florida and South Carolina are seeing similar momentum.
• Developers continue to construct new data centers, causing surrounding communities to become more concerned about environmental safety and sustainability. As new facilities face more questions about emissions and environmental impact, renewable diesel allows operators to make viable and credible improvements without having to touch their backup power design.

 

Backing Up Data Centers With Renewable Diesel

The Southeast has become one of the fastest-growing data center markets in the country. Georgia now hosts more than 200 data center facilities statewide, and the pace of construction shows no signs of slowing down. Atlanta’s data center market has posted vacancy rates as low as 1%, even with thousands of megawatts under construction, because demand keeps outrunning new supply. Florida and South Carolina are riding a similar wave, pulled forward by hyperscale campuses, colocation builds, and the broader AI and cloud computing boom reshaping our region.

Along with that growth is the challenge of ensuring backup power. Data centers cannot afford downtime, which means standby diesel generators remain the backbone of every reliability plan, sized to carry full IT and cooling load if grid power ever fails. A single site can have dozens, even hundreds, of multi-megawatt generators standing ready. And even if they run only a fraction of the year, they must work flawlessly every time.

A reliable supply of renewable diesel ensures that backup power is always available while addressing the issue of environmental safety and regional impact whenever these generators are in use.

 

What Is Renewable Diesel?

Renewable diesel is produced by hydrotreating renewable feedstocks, such as used cooking oil, animal fats, and vegetable oils, using processes originally developed inside petroleum refineries. The process strips out oxygen and produces a hydrocarbon fuel that is chemically almost identical to petroleum diesel. In contrast, biodiesel is made through a chemical process called transesterification, which leaves oxygen molecules in the fuel.

Because renewable diesel is a straight hydrocarbon, it meets ASTM D975, the same specification that governs conventional diesel fuel oils. Biodiesel meets a separate standard, ASTM D6751, and is typically blended into diesel at levels like B5 or B20 rather than used on its own. Renewable diesel doesn’t need to be blended to work. It can be used at 100% concentration as a drop-in replacement in the same tanks, fuel lines, and generators you already have, with no engine modifications and no new infrastructure required.

 

Renewable Diesel Advantages:

• Storage stability—Biodiesel is more prone to oxidation, water absorption, and microbial growth over time, which is problematic for fuel that may sit in a generator’s tank for months without being used. Renewable diesel resists all three complications far better, suiting the exact use case of standby generation.
• Cold weather performance—Biodiesel can begin to gel at temperatures anywhere between 30°F and 75°F. Renewable diesel typically stays fluid down to -10°F or lower, giving it a wider safety margin for the occasional cold snap the Southeast does see.
• Cetane rating—Renewable diesel typically carries a cetane rating between 75 and 90, compared to the average range of 40 to 52 for petroleum diesel, which supports strong combustion performance.
• Ultra-low sulfur—Renewable diesel contains less than 15 ppm sulfur, in line with ultra-low-sulfur diesel standards already required for most modern generator engines.

 

Renewable Diesel: A Greener Alternative

Renewable diesel can reduce greenhouse gas and other emissions by up to 80%, depending on feedstock, when compared to conventional petroleum diesel. Life cycle carbon emissions are commonly cited as roughly 70% lower than fossil diesel, largely because the feedstocks are waste and byproduct materials rather than crude oil pulled out of the ground.

Beyond carbon, renewable diesel also reduces particulate matter, nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons in the exhaust stream. For a facility running generators near residential neighborhoods, industrial parks, or other data center campuses, it’s crucial to cut local emissions on top of carbon emissions, especially as more communities start paying close attention to the air quality impact of large backup power installations.

Luckily, generator manufacturers broadly approve the use of 100% renewable diesel in existing standby-rated units, making the switch far easier and cost-effective to implement.

 

Walthall Oil Company: Supplying The Southeast With Renewable Diesel for Years

Walthall Oil Company has supplied renewable diesel throughout Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina for years, long before the recent data center boom in the region. As fuel supply needs increase, it’s vital to partner with a supplier like Walthall that has deep knowledge, logistical experience, and reliable infrastructure to keep your center’s fuel tanks stocked throughout the year.

Walthall Oil Company has operated as a wholesale fuel and lubricant distributor across Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina since 1952, with warehouse locations in:

• Macon, GA
• Atlanta, GA
• Savannah, GA
• Camilla, GA
• Jacksonville, FL
• Miami, FL
• Cocoa, FL
• Newberry, SC
• Florence, SC
• Charleston, SC

Deliveries reach roughly a 100-mile radius of each location, covering all of Georgia and most of Florida and South Carolina, with extension into parts of North Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama. For data center operators throughout the Southeast, our reach and capabilities ensure your renewable diesel supply is well within range and that distribution and delivery match your site’s needs and your schedule.

Data center customers can trust Walthall to become their partner in reliability, not a commodity fuel seller. As such, in addition to product supply, our partner services can also include: wireless tank monitoring, fuel filtration, fuel control systems, plant reliability, and additional services, all designed to help operators manage fuel quality and availability with less stress and hassle.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Renewable Diesel

 

Can renewable diesel be used in our existing backup generators without modification?

Yes, renewable diesel meets ASTM D975, the same specification as petroleum diesel, and generator manufacturers broadly approve its use at up to 100% concentration in existing standby-rated units. No engine changes or new fuel infrastructure are needed.

 

Is renewable diesel the same thing as biodiesel?

No, renewable diesel and biodiesel are chemically different. Renewable diesel is a hydrocarbon produced through hydrotreating and is chemically very close to petroleum diesel. Biodiesel is produced through a different process called transesterification and meets a separate specification (ASTM D6751). Renewable diesel generally offers better storage stability, cold-weather performance, and emissions reduction than biodiesel.

 

How much can renewable diesel reduce emissions compared to conventional diesel?

Renewable diesel can reduce greenhouse gas and other emissions by up to 80%, depending on the feedstock used, with life cycle carbon emissions commonly cited as roughly 70% lower than fossil diesel.

 

Will renewable diesel negatively affect our generator’s performance or reliability?

No, renewable diesel will not have a negative effect on your generator’s performance or reliability. Renewable diesel has a higher cetane rating than petroleum diesel, supporting strong combustion, and its superior storage stability makes it well suited to generators that sit idle for extended periods between uses, which is the normal operating pattern for backup power.

 

Does Walthall serve data centers outside of major metro areas?

Yes, Walthall’s delivery network covers roughly a 100-mile radius around each of our warehouse locations in Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. We can reach data center campuses in metro areas and surrounding regions alike, with extension into parts of North Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama.

 

How do we partner with Walthall Oil Company for renewable diesel supply?

If you need renewable diesel for your data center or facility within the Southeast, call Walthall at 478-781-1234 to talk through your facility’s fuel needs, delivery schedule, and volume requirements with a team that has supplied renewable diesel across the region for years.

 

Ready to benefit from renewable diesel delivery at your data center? Call Walthall Oil Company today at (478) 781-1234.

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