BioRefineries Blog

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Raízen has recently informed that it will invest in the construction of its second cellulosic ethanol plant. Market release: “ Nova planta e contrato para comercializaçao de etanol celulósico ”, 25/06/2021. Figure 1. Raízen to build its second cellulosic ethanol plant The plant will have an installed capacity for the production of 82 million liters per year, corresponding to double capacity of its first plant. It will be integrated into the Bonfim bioenergy park located in Guariba (Sao Paulo, Brazil), which in addition to the production of sugar, first generation ethanol and electricity from sugarcane biomass, also houses the first biogas plant of the company, inaugurated in October 2020. The forecast is that the plant will enter into operation in 2023. With the start of operation, the total capacity of Raízen's production will be approximately 120 million liters of 2G ethanol per year. The announcement of the new plant meets t...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Bioflex Agroindustrial has achieved an internationally recognised certification from the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB), a global standard for biofuels and other biobased and circular fuels and materials. Press release: “ Granbio achieves RSB certificate for its cellulosic ethanol in Europe ”, 26/04/2021. GranBio’s RSB Certificate and Audit Summary Report . CELLULOSIC ETHANOL . Figure 1. BioFlex® 1, the first biorefinery producing cellulosic ethanol on a commercial scale in the Southern Hemisphere Part of GranBio , a Brazilian biotechnology company and pioneer in the production of cellulosic ethanol in the Southern Hemisphere, Bioflex Agroindustrial’s certificate demonstrates compliance with both RSB’s robust sustainability requirements and the regulatory requirements of RED (EU sustainability criteria and traceability requirements for biofuels and bioliquids). The certificate demonstrates that the 2G ethanol biofuel...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. YPFB (Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos) has announced its plans to produce renewable diesel in Bolivia with the construction of a new unit located at the Guillermo Elder Bell refinery in Santa Cruz. Press release: “ Bolivia, pionera en la producción de diésel renovable en américa latina ”, 03/03/2021. RENEWABLE DIESEL . Figure 1. YPFB to build a renewable diesel biorefinery in Bolivia The plant, which will require an investment of 250 M$, will produce approximately 9,000 barrels of renewable diesel per day, transforming oils (crude and used) and tallow. During the third quarter of this year, a public tender will be launched to find the company that will carry out the engineering, purchase and construction of this new plant that will start operating in the last quarter of 2024. YPFB has signed confidentiality agreements with leading companies worldwide in the development of this type of technology (Axens, UOP and Haldor T...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Braskem is expanding its production capacity of green ethylene, the main feedstock derived from sugarcane ethanol which is used in the production of renewable resins. Press release: “ Braskem invests US$61 million to increase biopolymer production ”, 23/02/2021. Related post: “ Biobased polyolefins - Biobased Polyethylene (bio-PE) ”, 27/05/2020. Figure 1. Braskem to increase green ethylene production capacity at the plant in Triunfo (taken from the press release) This raw material is produced at the company's plant in Triunfo (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil) whose capacity will be increased from the current 200 ktons/year to 260 ktons/year. The expansion project, budgeted at 61 M$, will be rolled out in 2021 and should be concluded in the fourth quarter of 2022. All the steps involved in the process to expand Braskem's green ethylene production capacity will continue without causing any interruption to current production, and ...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS. Agroforestry and research company Investancia has signed a 30-year offtake deal with ECB Group that will see 300,000 tons of pongamia oil produced annually by 2030. Full press release provided by Christian Nielsen (Head of Sales & Marketing at Investancia) on 23/02/2021. Related posts: - “ ECB Group will build a renewable diesel biorefinery in Paraguay ”, 27/02/2019. - “ Acciona selected to build the HVO plant of ECB in Paraguay ”, 28/11/2019. - “ ECB Group closes advanced biofuel offtake agreement with bp ”, 19/01/2021. Figure 1. Pongamia The Investancia tree propagation and R&D centre, located near Carmelo Peralta, Alto Paraguay, is the world’s largest dedicated elite pongamia tree production site. Its current annual production capacity of 1 million trees will scale over the next 10 years to a total of 50 million trees, planted across 125,000 hectares. A report by MEO Carbon Solutions (part of ISCC) found that pongamia oil has...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS. Michelin is launching construction on its first tire recycling plant in collaboration with Enviro , a Swedish company that has developed a patented technology to recover carbon black, oil, steel and gas from end-of-life tires. Press releases: - “ Michelin launches construction on its first tire recycling plant in the world ”, 09/02/2021. - “ Enviro announces further details of partnership agreements with Michelin ”, 16/02/2021. Figure 1. Enviro process The plant, which will be based on Enviro’s patented pyrolysis technology, will be located in Chile and will have an annual recycling capacity of 25,000-30,000 tons. Work will begin in 2021, with production scheduled to get underway in 2023. More than 30 M$ will be invested in this new-generation end-of-life tire processing plant. The parties intend to form a joint venture, which will own the facility. This joint venture will be 10% owned by Enviro and 90% owned by Michelin. Michelin will ap...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Maire Tecnimont S.p.A. (through its subsidiary NextChem) and Essential Energy USA Corp (one of the leading biofuels producers in South America) have signed a Front-End Engineering Design contract as well as a Memorandum of Understanding for the construction of a new biorefinery in South America for the production of renewable diesel. Press release: “ Agreement between Maire Tecnimont Group and Essential Energy USA Corp for a new renewable diesel biorefinery in South America ”, 15/02/2021. Related posts: HVO . The project execution is subject to the Final Investment Decision of Essential Energy USA Corp. The biorefinery will produce 200 ktons/year of high-quality renewable diesel from biobased feedstocks non in competition with food. NextChem will be the exclusive EPC contractor. The project is expected to be operational in 2023.

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF.  The ECB Group has announced the sign of a contract with bp to sell more than a billion litres of low carbon transport fuel commencing in 2024.  Press release: “ ECB Group and bp enter into advanced biofuel agreement ”, 14/01/2021.  Related posts:  - “ ECB Group will build a renewable diesel biorefinery in Paraguay ”, 27/02/2019.  - “ Acciona selected to build the HVO plant of ECB in Paraguay ”, 28/11/2019.   Figure 1. Omega Green project model   The ECB Group is Brazil's leading producer of biodiesel with an annual capacity of 828 million litres. With this contract, signed on January 5th 2021, the group will position itself as the leading producer of biodistillate in the southern hemisphere and the leading supplier of bp on that zone.  The Omega Green advanced biofuel plant will be built in Paraguay and have a total production capacity of 20,000 barrels per day, producing a mix of renewable ...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF.  Solvay has inaugurated the second plant dedicated exclusively to the manufacturing of its sustainable solvent Augeo® , bringing its production capacity from 6,000 up to 20,000 tons a year.  Press release: “ Solvay opens its second sustainable solvent plant in Brazil ”, 15/10/2020.   Figure 1. Solvay opens a second plant in Brazil for its line of biobased solvents Augeo   Installed in the company's industrial complex in Paulinia in the Province of São Paulo (Brazil), the new plant already operates at full capacity, serving customers on different continents. The USA is the primary market for the product manufactured in Paulinia, accounting for more than 30% of exports, followed by Europe, Asia, and Latin America.  Augeo derives from glycerine and is used in fragrances, personal care, household and institutional cleaning items, paints and varnishes. It is also widely used in the agribusiness and oil and gas segm...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS.  Bacardi , the world’s largest family-owned spirits company, has unveiled plans to use a new sustainable bottle by 2023. Petroleum-based plastics used by Bacardi today will be replaced by Danimer Scientific ’s Nodax™ PHA.  Press release: “ Bacardi first in fight against plastic pollution with 100% biodegradable spirits bottle ”, 21/10/2020.   Figure 1. Bacardi unveils new biodegradable bottle made from Danimer Scientific’s Nodax™ PHA (taken from the press release)   The new biodegradable bottle will replace 80 million plastic bottles (3,000 tons of plastic) currently produced by Bacardi across its portfolio of brands every year. This move is possible thanks to its close collaboration with Danimer, a leading developer and manufacturer of biodegradable products. By the way, Danimer has recently entered into a definitive merger agreement with Live Oak Acquisition Corp .  Danimer’s Nodax™ PHA is a biopolymer which deriv...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF.  In order to make the bioeconomy one of the pillars of the country's productive transformation, the Government of the Republic of Costa Rica released its National Bioeconomy Strategy earlier this month.  Press release: “ Costa Rica lanza Estrategia Nacional de Bioeconomía ”, 7/8/2020.  Executive summary of the National Bioeconomy Strategy (in Spanish).  Figure 1. Cover of the executive summary of the National Bioeconomy Strategy of Costa Rica  The Strategy has a 10-year vision and is planned to be implemented in three phases: impulse (2020-2022), scaling (2022-2026) and consolidation (2026-2030). Through these three phases and five strategic axes, the use of Costa Rica's biological wealth and capabilities in the scientific field will be promoted, based on knowledge and the sustainable use of the country's biological assets.  10-year vision  To cement a Costa Rica with sustainable production of ...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF.  GranBio (Brazilian industrial biotechnology company) and NextChem (Maire Tecnimont’s subsidiary for energy transition) have announced a strategic partnership to achieve global leadership in the licensing of patented GranBio 2G Ethanol technology to produce cellulosic ethanol .  Press release: “ GranBio e NextChem assinam parceria para desenvolver mercado de etanol celulósico ”, 3/8/2020.  Figure 1. The technology developed by GranBio has been implemented in its factory located in São Miguel dos Campos (Alagoas), the first in the Southern Hemisphere dedicated to cellulosic ethanol.  GranBio’s 2G Ethanol technology converts lignocellulosic, non-food biomass to renewable, low carbon intensity biofuels. NextChem is partnering with GranBio to license this technology worldwide. The alliance combines GranBio's technology and knowledge in 2G biomass and biofuels with NextChem's engineering intelligence, EPC capabiliti...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Petrobras will carry out tests of renewable diesel production at the Presidente Getúlio Vargas Refinery (Repar) in Araucária (Paraná, Brazil) starting this month. Press release: “ Petrobras está preparada para produzir nova gasolina em suas refinarias ”, 24/6/2020. Related posts: “ Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils (HVO) Biorefineries – The rise of renewable diesel ”, 17/11/2019 (last update). Figure 1. Repar Refinery in Araucária will host the tests of HVO production (taken from the company website) According to Anelise Lara (Director of Refining and Natural Gas at Petrobras), the market entry of this renewable diesel still depends on regulation by the ANP (National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels of Brazil). Its economic viability would be subject to the approval of a new rule for adding biofuels to diesel, issue currently under discussion at the ANP. Petrobras patented its hydroconversion process, c...

Versión en Español Type of post: NEWS. Last week, ECB Group signed an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) agreement with Spanish company Acciona regarding to its HVO plant in Paraguay. The so-called Omega Green Project was launched last February and represents the largest private investment in Paraguay's history. Press release: “ Banks and global companies will be the suppliers of the Omega Green advanced biofuel plant in Paraguay ”, 30/10/2019. Related post: “ ECB Group will build a renewable diesel biorefinery in Paraguay ”, 27/2/2019. Figure 1. Event of the Omega Green project On Monday, new data about the project were disclosed in an event with high-level audience, including the President of Paraguay, government authorities, foreigners diplomats, bank executives and logistics operators in the country. Those are the highlights (some of them were already known): - The total investment will reach 800 M$ and it is estimated that Omega Gree...

Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF. Praj Industries (process and project engineering company headquartered in India) and Dedini S/A Indústrias de Base (engineering and manufacturing company based in Brazil) have entered into a Cooperation Agreement to provide ethanol production technologies to the Brazilian market. Press release: “ Praj and Dedini join hands in Brazil ”, 12/8/2019. Related posts: - “ Green light to Praj for the commence of the activities of other cellulosic ethanol biorefinery project in India ”, 19/5/2018. - “ Gevo and Praj team up to commercialize renewable isobutanol, jet fuel and isooctane in India ”, 11/4/2019. Figure 1. Dedini and Praj join forces in Brazil to provide ethanol production technologies to the Brazilian market The agreement paves the way for Dedini to market Praj’s novel technology solutions to set up ethanol production facilities using grain-based feedstock and modernize existing ethanol plants in Brazil. Praj’s scope includes tech...

Type of post: NEWS. A private team of international promoters is working on the development of  agribusiness projects in Mexico, with great environmental, economic and social potential impact, that will be based on the production of bioethanol. Recently, they have registered a Mexican company called Meta Bioetanol S.A de C.V. whose objective is to make these projects a reality, which means a great step for the promotion of the rural bioeconomy in the Mexican zones where they are finally installed. In this post, we will know the background and the current status of this initiative. Those interested in participating in the investment opportunity described below, can write to the Blog ( info@biorefinno.com ) to obtain direct contact with the promoters. Background In Mexico, the boost to the bioethanol industry has been gradual and modest, in comparison with other countries in the region, concentrating mainly on the demand side with regulations that allow its incorporati...

Type of post: NEWS. FS Bioenergia is a joint venture between Tapajós Participações (formerly, Fiagril) and Summit Agricultural Group that operates the first large-scale corn ethanol production plant in Brazil . The facility was officially opened in August 2017 to produce corn-based ethanol and coproducts in the town of Lucas do Rio Verde (state of Mato Grosso). FS Bioenergia was a pioneer in a national ethanol sector traditionally dominated by sugarcane. The venture was favourably propelled by the situation in Mato Grosso. The farmers of the state produce corn above the domestic needs and the majority of that corn is exported out of distant Brazilian ports. The high transport costs have convinced the stakeholders that it is more profitable to process the corn into value added products. Figure 1. Main entrance of the FS Bioenergia plant in Lucas do Rio Verde (taken from the company website) The first plant has been performing good results, with sales of ethanol and DDG...