OMV invests in a pilot plant to transform glycerin into propanol

Type of post: NEWS.

OMV (oil, gas and chemicals company headquartered in Vienna) plans to build a pilot plant at its Schwechat Refinery using a patented process developed inhouse. After more than five years of research, OMV is investing in the ‘Glycerin2Propanol’ process to transform glycerin into propanol.
Press release: “OMV invests in 2nd-generation biofuel production”, 04/03/2021.
Related post: “AustroCel and OMV start cooperation on 2G ethanol”, 28/12/2020.

Figure 1. The Glycerin2Propanol pilot plant will be built beside the ReOil® plant (photo: OMV)

Name	Glycerin2Propanol.
Location	It will be built at the Schwechat Refinery beside the ReOil® plant so that both units can utilize a single measuring station, exploiting synergic effects through a shared-operator concept.
Investment	30 M€. Of this, around 6.9 M€ will come from the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG). Another source of funding is the COVID-19 premium.
Feedstock	Glycerin. 1.2 liters of crude glycerin is needed to produce a litre of propanol. It is a byproduct from the production of biodiesel, as well as the manufacture of detergents and soaps. It is considered an advanced feedstock under the European Union’s RED II (Renewable Energy Directive).
Product and production capacity	1.25 Ml of propanol per year (CO2 emissions reduction of around 1,800 metric tons). It will be used as a bio-additive for gasoline and as a sustainable feedstock for the chemicals market (replacement for fossil-based propanol).
Timeline	Construction is set to start in the second quarter of 2021. The pilot plant should be operational in 2023.
Future plans	The long-term plan is to commercialize the technology in order to produce around 125 Ml of propanol per year (CO2 emissions reduction of around 180,000 metric tons).