Influence of blends of diesel and renewable fuels on compression ignition engine emissions over transient engine conditions

•Mixture Design of Experiments is a powerful tool to evaluate fuel blends.•Ternary blends can be used effectively to increase renewable content.•Drive cycles cover transient driving behaviour better than steady-state scenarios.•Ethanol provides largest emission reduction, influence consumption negatively.•B2E9 fuel blend both increase renewable content in fuel and reduce harmful emissions.