BioRefineries Blog

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. A consortium, including LanzaTech and Danone, led to the discovery of a new route to monoethylene glycol, (MEG), which is a key building block for polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Press release: " LanzaTech, with the support of Danone, Discovers Method to Produce Sustainable PET Bottles from Captured Carbon ", 26/05/2022. The technology converts carbon emissions from steel mills or gasified waste biomass directly into MEG. The carbon capture technology uses a proprietary engineered bacterium to convert carbon emissions directly into MEG through fermentation, bypassing the need for an ethanol intermediate, and simplifying the MEG supply chain. The direct production of MEG was proven at laboratory scale and the presence of MEG was confirmed by two external laboratories.

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. BTC Europe GmbH and NXTLEVVEL Biochem have signed an agreement on the distribution of biobased and biodegradable solvents derived from levulinic acid for the European market. Levulinic acid can serve as a versatile building block for chemicals and materials derived directly from biomass. Due to their broad solvency power, low volatility, high safety profile and biodegradability levulinate solvents offer a sustainable alternative to solvents based on fossil feedstock for a wide range of applications. Press release: " BTC Europe and NXTLEVVEL Biochem sign agreement to distribute biobased and biodegradable solvents throughout Europe ", 24/05/2021. Both companies seek to leverage their expertise and industrial know-how to respond to the high demand for more sustainable and low-emission products on the European market and enable customers to make more environmentally friendly decisions in their procurement and development processes. Through the coopera...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Dimeta B.V., the joint venture of SHV Energy and UGI International, has announced the intended location of its first commercial-scale renewable dimethyl ether (rDME) production plant at Teesworks in the United Kingdom (UK). This marks a major step forward for Dimeta on its commitment to bring rDME to Europe and the United States in 2024. Press release: " Dimeta Announces Intended Location for its First Commercial Scale rDME Production Plant inTeesworks, UK ", 17/05/2022. Dimeta plans to produce 50,000 tonnes/year of rDME at the Teesworks production facility located in the Teesside area, which is one of the UK’s leading industrial clusters for de-fossilisation. Pending approvals, this will bring additional investment and employment opportunities to the local area. Dimeta expects to create more than 250 new jobs during construction and more than 50 skilled full-time jobs during the operational phase, which is expected by the middle of 2024. This cr...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. A team of energy industry companies led by SGP BioEnergy together with the Government of Panama have announced the development of the world's largest biofuels production and distribution hub. Once complete in five years, Biorefineria Ciudad Dorada (Golden City Biorefinery), located in Colon and Balboa (Panama) will be the largest SAF production platform in the world producing 180,000 barrels per day (2.6 billion gallons per year) of advanced biofuels. Press release: " SGP BioEnergy Announces World's Largest Advanced Biofuel Production Facility ", 18/05/2022. Developed in partnership with private landowners, Panama Oil Terminals (POTSA) and the government of Panama, this project will repurpose existing facilities currently processing and storing 70% of the country's bunker fuel oil to the refinement and storage of biofuels derived from purpose grown plant oils, and waste fats and greases. It will immediately reduce the carbon output of ...

  Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Protos Biofuels Ltd (Protos), an iniciative developed by Advanced Biofuel Solutions Ltd (ABSL) and Greenergy, has announced that its first municipal waste to advanced biofuels project, l ocated on the Protos site in the North West of England , has entered into the front-end engineering design (FEED) phase. Press release: " Protos Biofuels’ first commercial scale municipal waste to biofuels plant progresses to FEED stage ", 11/05/2022. Petrofac has been appointed to deliver the FEED, with Sumitomo SHI FW (SFW) to supply the gasifier that converts the household waste into synthesis gas (syngas). Proval will design the direct current plasma arc furnace that will be used to clean the syngas and Wood will licence its VESTA process that will convert syngas into biomethane and biohydrogen.  The commercial scale Protos plant will incorporate ABSL’s RadGas process technology to produce grid-grade biomethane and biohydrogen from MSW. Due for completion in...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Brazilian sugar-maker Raizen has approved an investment to build two second-generation ethanol plants, as part of the company’s strategy to expand its portfolio of renewable fuel. News (Financial Post): " Brazil's Raizen to invest $390 mln in second generation ethanol plants ", 11/05/2022. The new plants, which are going to be located in its energy parks in Sao Paulo state, will add a capacity of 164 thousand cubic meters of biofuel per year and are expected to start operation in 2024.  The company already operates one second generation ethanol plant and is in the construction phase of another. All four plants will have total capacity of 280 thousand cubic meters per year, of which 80% was already commercialized in long-term contracts.

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Swedish Biofuels and COWI have partnered up to supply the Swedish market with 400,000 tons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from three facilities. Swedish Biofuels technology is based on the 'alcohol-to-jet' (ATJ) pathway. Press release: " COWI and Swedish Biofuels to build factories for sustainable aviation fuel production ", 06/05/2022. Related post: " Alcohol-To-Fuel ", 02/07/20218. Backed by the European Commission, the first factory will be built in Brista, close to Arlanda Airport. The first supply of sustainable aviation fuel is scheduled for 2025. The facility will also produce sustainable diesel and petrol.The process uses sustainable green ethanol as a feedstock.  As part of the partnership, COWI and Arkitema will contribute planning, architectural design and client consultancy as well as design during the construction phase.  The production will result in excess heat, which will be routed to Stockholm Exergi's ad...

  Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Gidara’s next advanced biofuels facility in the Netherlands, Advanced Methanol Rotterdam (AMR), will be located at the port of Rotterdam. The plant will convert non-recyclable waste into renewable methanol that will replace fossil fuels, creating significant carbon savings. The Port of Rotterdam Authority has reserved a unique site in the port for this facility. Press release: Gidara Energy AMR will convert non-recyclable waste into advanced biofuels . Figure 1. Gidara Energy will build a renewable methanol plant at the port of Rotterdam AMR will achieve a reduction of 350,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2 eq) of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per year, producing approximately 90,000 tons of renewable methanol yearly by converting 180,000 tons of local non-recyclable waste that is currently being incinerated. All side streams of the conversion process at the AMR facility will be put to use. The CO2 will be captured and led to local gree...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Lummus Technology has announced a partnership with Braskem. They will license worldwide technology to produce green ethylene and accelerate the use of bioethanol for chemicals and plastics, supporting the industry’s efforts towards a carbon neutral circular economy. Press release: " Lummus and Braskem Announce Partnership for Green Ethylene Technology ", 28/04/2022. Lummus has licensed approximately 40% of global ethylene capacity, giving the company the technical capability and licensing expertise to further develop and market the technology behind green ethylene. This partnership enables the license of the technology globally with the first two projects being developed in the U.S. and Thailand; the later still under evaluation and subject to the approvals of the respective governance bodies. This partnership reflects Lummus’ strategic business direction, through its subsidiary Green Circle, as a leader in commercializing and developing breakthr...