BioRefineries Blog

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. ADM and Gevo have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and other low carbon-footprint hydrocarbon fuels. Press release: “ ADM, Gevo Sign MoU to Produce up to 500M Gallons of Sustainable Aviation Fuel ”, 25/10/2021. Related posts: - “ Alcohol-To-Fuel ”, 02/07/2018. - “ Gevo and Axens join forces for the development of Sustainable Aviation Fuel projects in USA ”, 13/10/2021. Figure 1. ADM and Gevo join forces to produce sustainable aviation fuel The MoU contemplates the production of both ethanol and isobutanol that would then be transformed into renewable low carbon-footprint hydrocarbons, including SAF , using Gevo’s processing technology and capabilities. About 900 million gallons of ethanol produced at ADM’s mills (Columbus, Cedar Rapids and Decatur) are expected to be transformed into approximately 500 million gallons of SAF and other renewable hydrocarbons. T...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Gevo and Axens have entered into an agreement that establishes a strategic alliance aimed at accelerating the commercialization of sustainable ethanol-to-jet (ETJ) projects in the United States. Press release: “ Gevo and Axens Ink Alliance for Ethanol-to-Jet Technology and Sustainable Aviation Fuel Commercial Project Development ”, 12/10/2021. Related posts: “ Gevo intends to build a renewable fuels production plant in Lake Preston ”, 07/01/2021. Figure 1. Gevo and Axens join forces for Sustainable Aviation Fuel project development in USA As part of the alliance, Axens brings: technologies with over 60 related patents; engineering packages; proprietary catalysts; and certain proprietary equipment required to convert ethanol into jet fuel. Axens would also provide process guarantees for commercial ETJ projects. Gevo expects to develop, own and operate ETJ plants to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), utilizing: its expertise ...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Production is now underway at Pyrocell 's plant in Gävle (Sweden). The new plant converts sawdust into bio-oil. Press release: “ Pyrocell commences production ”, 20/09/2021. Related posts: - “ BTG-BTL and TechnipFMC to build a pyrolysis plant in Sweden for Pyrocell ”, 16/09/2019. - “ Pyrocell holds the groundbreaking ceremony marking construction start of Sweden's first biofuels pyrolysis plant ”, 24/03/2020. Figure 1. Pyrocell commences pyrolysis oil production in Sweden Pyrocell, which is jointly owned by Setra and Preem, was formed in 2018 based on the business concept of producing bio-oil from sawdust. Pyrocell's plant is located next to Setra Kastet sawmill in Gävle. There, sawdust, which is a residual product in Setra's industrial process, is converted into non-fossil pyrolysis oil. The pyrolysis oil is then refined into renewable diesel and petrol at Preem's refinery in Lysekil. The plant will produce arou...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Royal Dutch Shell plc (Shell) has announced a final investment decision to build a biofuels facility with a capacity of 820 ktons/year at the Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Rotterdam (the Netherlands) formerly known as the Pernis refinery. Once built, the facility will be among the biggest in Europe to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel made from waste. Press release: “ Shell to build one of Europe’s biggest biofuels facilities ”, 16/09/2021. Figure 1. Pernis refinery Advanced production methods will be used to make the fuels. The facility is expected to use technology to capture carbon emissions from the manufacturing process and store them in an empty gas field beneath the North Sea through the Porthos project. A final investment decision for Porthos is expected next year. A facility of this size could produce enough renewable diesel to avoid 2.8 Mtons of carbon dioxide emissions a year. The Rotterd...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Arbor Renewable Gas, LLC will use Topsoe’s TIGAS  technology for producing renewable gasoline at a new facility in the Gulf Coast region (USA). Press release: “ Arbor Renewable Gas chooses Topsoe’s TIGAS™ technology for renewable gasoline ”, 19/08/2021. The facility will expectedly be operational by 2024 to produce 1,000 barrels per day of renewable gasoline with a significantly negative carbon intensity score under California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard. The use of this fuel by consumers avoids the emission of at least 250,000 tons of CO2 to the atmosphere every year. Topsoe will supply the methanol synthesis technologies and the backend gasoline synthesis unit (TIGAS™). The methanol synthesis loop is based on the modular MeOH-To-Go™ design.

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. ExxonMobil has announced that its majority-owned affiliate Imperial Oil Ltd. is moving forward with plans to produce renewable diesel at a new complex at its Strathcona refinery in Edmonton (Canada). Press release: “ ExxonMobil affiliate to produce renewable diesel to help reduce transportation emissions in Canada ”, 25/08/2021. Figure 1. ExxonMobil affiliate Imperial intends to produce renewable diesel in Edmonton When construction is complete, the refinery is expected to produce approximately 20,000 barrels per day of renewable diesel, which could reduce emissions in the Canadian transportation sector by about 3 million metric tons per year. The complex will utilize locally grown plant-based feedstock and hydrogen with carbon capture and storage (CCS) as part of the manufacturing process. The renewable diesel production process will utilize blue hydrogen, which is produced from natural gas with carbon capture and storage. Prod...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Starwood Energy Group Global, Inc. (“Starwood Energy”, a private investment firm that specializes in energy infrastructure investments) and Slate Refining, LLC (“Slate”, an energy production and wholesale distribution and logistics company) have announced that they have entered into an exclusive agreement to reconfigure Slate’s refinery located in Douglas (Wyoming, USA) into a state-of-the-art renewable fuels production facility. Press release: “ Starwood Energy and Slate Refining Partner to Develop, Construct and Operate Renewable Fuels Facility ”, 17/08/2021. Upon completion of the project, the facility is expected to produce over 100 MGal annually of renewable fuels, such as renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and arctic diesel. Starwood Energy’s extensive experience developing, owning, operating and financing renewables and energy transition projects, coupled with Slate’s operational and refining expertise, brings a...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Gevo has announced that production operations at its advanced, renewable fuels production facility located in Luverne (Minnesota, USA) have re-commenced. Press release: “ Gevo's Luverne Facility Re-Starts Production Operations ”, 04/08/2021. Related post: “ Gevo intends to build a renewable fuels production plant in Lake Preston ”, 03/09/2018. Figure 1. Gevo biorefinery in Luverne The Luverne Facility is expected to produce fuel-grade, renewable isobutanol (“IBA”). The IBA produced will be used as a feedstock for Gevo to produce sustainable aviation fuel ( Alcohol-To-Fuel ) and premium gasoline ( Renewable gasoline ) to fulfill existing sales contracts. These renewable hydrocarbons will be produced in Silsbee (Texas, USA) at the South Hampton Resources, Inc. hydrocarbon production facility. Gevo also expects to utilize some of the IBA produced to develop certain IBA specialty markets. Moreover, the production operations at the L...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Marathon’s renewable projects are progressing well. The Dickinson renewable diesel plant reached its design capacity during the second quarter of this year. Detailed engineering and permitting progressed for the conversion of Martinez Refinery to renewable fuels production. “ Marathon Petroleum Corp. Reports Second-Quarter 2021 Results ”, 04/08/2021. Related posts: “ Andeavor to transform the Dickinson Refinery into a renewable diesel biorefinery ”, 03/09/2018. Note: Andeavor was bought by Marathon. Figure 1. Marathon's Dickinson biorefinery Dickinson Renewable Diesel Facility Project: Converted petroleum refinery into renewable diesel facility. Location: Dickinson, North Dakota. Fuel: Renewable diesel and naphtha. Capacity: Approximately 184 million gallons per year. Timeline: Began producing renewable diesel in late 2020 and reached full production capacity in Q2 2021. Converting Martinez to Renewable Fuels Facility Project:...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS. Fulcrum BioEnergy has announced that it has completed construction on its first commercial-scale plant converting household garbage into transportation fuels. Press release: “ Fulcrum BioEnergy Completes Construction of the Sierra BioFuels Plant ”, 06/07/2021. Related posts: - “ Abengoa to start the construction of a biorefinery producing biofuels from MSW in Nevada ”, 09/11/2017. - “ Fulcrum to build its second waste-to-fuels plant in Indiana ”, 03/01/2019. - “ Fulcrum and Essar intend to build a waste-to-fuels plant in UK ”, 22/02/2021. Figure 1. Fulcrum’s first garbage-to-fuels facility, Sierra BioFuels, located near Reno (taken from Fulcrum’s website) With construction complete, start-up and commissioning on the plant has commenced and fuel production is expected to begin during the fourth quarter of 2021. The Sierra BioFuels Plant located east of Reno (Nevada) will convert 175 ktons of prepared municipal solid waste (MSW) into approx...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Velocys has announced the execution of a strategic framework agreement with Koch Project Solutions (KPS), a subsidiary of Koch Engineered Solutions, for its Bayou Fuels biorefinery project in Natchez (Mississippi, USA). Press release: “ Velocys U.S. SAF project update ”, 30/06/2021. Related posts: - “ The USDA does not find significant impact on the environmental assessment report for Velocys’ planned Mississippi biorefinery ”, 13/08/2018. - “ Velocys signs CCUS agreement with Oxy Low Carbon Ventures for its biorefinery project in Natchez ”, 16/10/2019. Subject to completion of due diligence and integrated licensor work, KPS may be awarded a turnkey engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to deliver the project facility, including an integrated performance guarantee wrap backed by a parent company guarantee. This project is expected to produce approximately 125 Ml/year of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with neg...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Steeper Energy has recently constructed and commissioned its Advanced Biofuels Centre (ABC) in Calgary (Alberta, Canada). Related posts: - “ Steeper Energy is partnering with Silva Green Fuel to construct an advanced biofuels plant at demo scale in Norway ”, 16/12/2017. - “ Steeper Energy will build a demo plant in Calgary to transform biowastes into advanced fuels ”, 07/07/2020. Video. Advanced Biofuels Centre This highly specialized laboratory and upgrader is enhancing Steeper’s expertise and patent portfolio for the upgrading of its Hydrofaction® Oil to ASTM specified drop-in biofuels and value-added biochemicals. ABC aims to develop economic pathways to 100% renewable fuels and chemicals and deliver solutions for Project Licensees to maximize returns.

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Partners repurpose the Rotterdam waste-to-chemicals project to waste-to-jet based on: substantial targets and demand for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF); expected support for Recycled Carbon Fuels; and a full scope, ‘in-house’ technical solution to be provided by Enerkem and Shell. Press release: “ From Waste-to-Chemicals to Waste-to-Jet ”, 08/06/2021. Related posts: - “ Air Liquide, AkzoNobel, AVR, Enerkem and Van Gansewinkel to build waste-to-chemicals plant in Rotterdam ”, 10/10/2016. - “ Air Liquide, AkzoNobel, Enerkem and the Port of Rotterdam sign agreement to cover the initial investment of the Rotterdam waste-to-chemistry project ”, 16/02/2018. Figure 1. Partners repurpose Rotterdam waste-to-chemicals project to waste-to-jet (extracted from the press release) With favourable support under Renewable Transport fuels regulations expected, the production of SAF from low-grade, post-recycling mixed waste has become an option, t...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS. NextChem has been awarded a contract by TotalEnergies to carry out a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) and supply its technological know-how to implement a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) plant in Grandpuits (France), capable of processing 400 ktons per year. Press release: “ Maire Tecnimont Group’s Nextchem awarded by TotalEnergies an engineering contract for a Biojet plant in France ”, 03/06/2021. Related posts: - “ Total to transform its Grandpuits refinery into a platform for advanced biofuels and bioplastics production ”, 01/10/2020. - “ Total starts production of sustainable aviation fuel in France ”, 12/04/2021. The project is part of the plan to convert the Grandpuits Refinery into a zero-crude platform (“Projet Galaxie”), where NextChem is already engineering Europe’s first plant to produce compostable and biodegradable plastics, with a capacity of 100 ktons/year. The plant, due to be operational in 2024, will produce biojet by trea...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Seaboard Energy has chosen Haldor Topsoe ’s HydroFlex renewable fuel technology to produce renewable diesel from tallow and soybean oil. Press release: “ Seaboard Energy has chosen Haldor Topsoe’s HydroFlex™ renewable fuel technology to produce renewable diesel from tallow and soybean oil .”, 14/05/2021. Related posts: - “ CVR Energy to revamp existing hydrocracker for renewable diesel production with Haldor Topsoe’s HydroFlex technology ”, 03/02/2021. - “ Topsoe’s HydroFlex and H2bridge technologies selected by Tidewater for its renewable diesel biorefinery in Canada ”, 21/04/2021. RENEWABLE DIESEL . The 6,500 barrels-per-day renewable diesel unit is currently under construction at Seaboard Energy’s site in Hugoton (Kansas, USA) and is scheduled for operation at the end of 2021. Topsoe is the licensor and supplier of basic engineering, proprietary equipment, catalyst, and technical services. It will also provide H2bridge hydrogen te...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Neste will modify its existing renewables production capacity in Rotterdam (the Netherlands) to enable production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Currently, the facility produces mainly Neste MY Renewable Diesel. Press release: “ Neste to enable production of up to 500,000 tons/a of Sustainable Aviation Fuel at its Rotterdam renewable products refinery ”, 22/04/2021. Related posts: - “ Neste holds foundation stone ceremony to officially mark the beginning of the extension of its biorefinery in Singapore ”, 21/07/2020. - “ Neste selects Rotterdam for its next renewable products refinery ”, 16/03/2021. Figure 1. Neste´s Rotterdam Biorefinery The modifications to the biorefinery, an investment of approximately 190 M€, will enable Neste to optionally produce up to 500 ktons/year of SAF as part of the existing capacity. The project is expected to be completed in the second half of 2023. Together with the ongoing Singapore biorefinery ex...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Aemetis has selected Axens Vegan hydroprocessing technology for its “Carbon Zero 1” production plant in Riverbank (California, USA). Press release: “ Aemetis Selects Axens Vegan® Technology for its Carbon Zero Project in Riverbank, California for the production of Renewable Diesel and Sustainable Aviation Fuel ”, 22/04/2021. The Aemetis “Carbon Zero 1” plant has a planned capacity of 45 MGal/year and will be located at the 142-acre Riverbank Industrial Complex (a former US Army ammunitions plant in Riverbank). The Axens scope will include technology license, basic engineering, catalyst supply, and proprietary equipment for the conversion of non-edible oils along with renewable cellulosic hydrogen (hydrogen from waste orchard wood) to produce a flexible mix of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel fuel. Aemetis recently announced a 2,000 M$ bid process to airlines and fuel blenders for the Carbon Zero 1 plant and ...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS. Tidewater Midstream and Infrastructure Ltd. (Tidewater) will utilize Topsoe ’s HydroFlex and H2bridge technologies to produce approximately 3,000 barrels per day of renewable diesel. Press releases: - “ Tidewater Midstream and Infrastructure Ltd. Provides an update on renewable energy initiatives ”, 11/03/2021. - “ Tidewater chooses Topsoe’s HydroFlex™ and H2bridge™ technologies for renewable diesel production ”, 15/04/2021. Related posts: - “ KLM, SkyNRG and SHV to build the first European dedicated biorefinery for sustainable aviation fuel ”, 29/05/2019. - “ Haldor Topsoe’s HydroFlex technology selected by GCEH for its renewable diesel biorefinery in Bakersfield ”, 22/06/2020. - “ CVR Energy to revamp existing hydrocracker for renewable diesel production with Haldor Topsoe’s HydroFlex technology ”, 03/02/2021. Figure 1. Topsoe’s HydroFlex and H2bridge technologies selected by Tidewater for its renewable diesel biorefinery in Canada (taken...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS. LanzaJet partners with Zeton and Burns & McDonnell to build its Alcohol-to-Jet biorefinery with start-up by end of 2022. Press release: “ LanzaJet awards engineering, procurement, and construction contracts to Zeton and Burns & McDonnell ”, 24/03/2021. Related posts: - “ ANA, LanzaTech, Mitsui and Suncor launch LanzaJet, a new company that will produce sustainable aviation fuel ”, 03/06/2020. - “ LanzaTech selects TechnipFMC’s Hummingbird® technology for its sustainable aviation fuel biorefinery ”, 23/07/2020. - “ FLITE project – Pre-commercial SAF production plant in Europe based on LanzaJet ATJ technology ”, 08/01/2021. Figure 1. LanzaJet awards EPC contracts to Zeton and Burns & McDonnell to build its Alcohol-to-Jet biorefinery LanzaJet has announced that it has awarded a fixed-price engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to Zeton for the fabrication and construction of the first Alcohol-to-Jet (AtJ) fac...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Total has begun producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at its La Mède biorefinery in southern France and its Oudalle facility near Le Havre. The biojet fuel, made from used cooking oil, will be delivered to French airports starting in April 2021. Press release: “ Total Begins Producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel in France ”, 08/04/2021. Related posts: - “ Total ready to start-up its HVO biorefinery in La Mède ”, 05/06/2019. - “ Total is considering the conversion of its oil refinery in Grandpuits into an HVO biorefinery ”, 26/06/2020. Figure 1. Total starts production of sustainable aviation fuel in France Total will also be able to produce SAF as from 2024 at its zero-crude Grandpuits platform, southeast of Paris. All of these sustainable aviation fuels will be made from animal fat, used cooking oil and other waste and residue sourced from the circular economy. Total will not use vegetable oils as feedstock. Total will be in a pos...