Neste plans to increase its production capacity in Singapore and launches online platform about sustainable aviation solutions

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Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF.

 We shall begin the year by catching up with some news in brief of the last month. First of all, two announcements from Neste. Currently, the Finnish company is the world's largest producer of renewable diesel with a capacity of 2.6 million tons (1 million in Singapore, 1 million in Rotterdam and the rest in Finland; see Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils (HVO) Biorefineries – The rise of renewable diesel for more information). By eliminating bottlenecks, this total capacity will be increased to 3 million tons by 2020. In addition to producing renewable diesel, the biorefineries are able to produce renewable aviation fuel and raw materials for various biochemical uses.

Neste has decided to extend its current capacity in the Singapore biorefinery by 1 million tons with a new production line (press release, 12/12/2017). The growth project includes an enhanced pretreatment unit in preparation for the use of increasingly poor-quality waste materials. There were two equally good locations for the new production line: United States and Singapore. Based on an overall assessment, the balance was more in favour of the Asian country. The current decision initiates technical design of the line, with the aim of a final investment decision by the end of 2018. If the project proceeds as planned, production will begin by 2022.

Figure 1. Cover of Decarbonizingaviation.com, the new online platform launched by Neste

Some days later, Neste announced the launching of an online platform for all aviation stakeholders who are working for the goal of carbon neutral growth: Decarbonizingaviation.com (press release, 21/12/2017). Renewable jet fuel is one of Neste's growth areas and it is helping airports and other sector stakeholders to take advantage of sustainable low-carbon fuels in their operations. The site features videos, blogs, articles and news across hot topics in the decarbonization of aviation debate.

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