Product expertise and patents

Product expertise contributes to work on standards and sales and customer support

Neste Oil’s fuel experts provided extensive sales and customer support on issues related to NExBTL renewable diesel and E10 gasoline during 2011. Company experts also took part in work on new fuel standards through various industry organizations. One of the most important of these was ASTM International, which approved a new standard for aviation biofuels in 2011.

As a long-time developer of cleaner traffic fuels, Neste Oil believes that environmental properties are central to its products. During 2011, particular emphasis was given to developing new methods for calculating the greenhouse gas emissions of NExBTL renewable diesel. This focused on developing new computational tools, calculating refinery greenhouse gas emissions, auditing the results of these calculations, and arranging internal training on greenhouse gas emission issues.

Numerous patents protect Neste Oil’s technology

Neste Oil actively defends it patents and recognizes their business value. Neste Oil focused particular attention on its intellectual property (IP) and the support this provides for the company’s businesses during 2011. Key areas of IP critical to Neste Oil’s business that need to be given patent protection were identified. The patents that protect the company’s business-critical technology – particularly those related to the raw materials used in producing renewable fuels and the technologies used for pretreating these materials – were also identified.

The number of patents applied for again increased in 2011, while the number of invention disclosures decreased. Patent applications mainly covered the technologies mentioned above. Neste Oil also monitored the patent activities of its competitors and stepped up monitoring work on its own brands. As part of patent development work, a new IP management system was introduced and training arranged for personnel on patenting-related matters.