EcoCeres signs European SAF storage deal with Evos, while Holborn selects Topsoe for German SAF

EcoCeres has partnered with Evos, a major liquids and chemical storage group, to increase supplies of sustainable aviation fuel in Europe. Hong Kong-based renewable fuels producer EcoCeres has just shipped from China 10 million litres of sustainable blending component to the Evos storage facility in Ghent, Belgium, one of Europe’s largest and fastest-growing SAF storage terminals. The HEFA-SPK product, developed from waste fats and oils, was produced at the EcoCeres processing plant in Jiangsu Province, eastern China, which the company says has been recognised by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) – Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), accreditations which enable sale of the product in Europe. Meanwhile, Denmark’s Topsoe has been selected to support the Holborn renewable fuels complex, which is due to begin operations in Hamburg, Germany, early in 2027, with capacity to produce 220,000 tonnes of SAF and renewable diesel per year.

EcoCeres, which is backed by international investors Bain Capital and Kerogen Capital, produces hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) from waste grease and animal fats which can then be processed into SAF. The company’s Zhangjiagang renewable fuel refinery in Jiangsu Province, north of Shanghai, has capacity to produce up to 350,000 tonnes of HVO and SAF per year. A second plant is under construction in Johor, Malaysia, that will produce SAF, HVO and renewable naphtha, and expand the company’s annual production capacity by up to 400,000 tonnes. EcoCeres says it is currently serving a number of international airlines and their jet fuel suppliers directly.

The partnership with Evos integrates the EcoCeres product into Europe’s SAF supply chain at a time of rapidly increasing demand, ahead of the EU’s SAF blending mandate starting next year. Evos is a key infrastructure provider to the renewable fuels sector, with combined storage capacity for 6.4 million cubic metres of liquid energy and chemical supplies at terminals in Ghent, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Malta and Algeciras, Spain.

In January 2023 the Ghent terminal provided the first delivery of SAF through the NATO Central European Pipeline System (CEPS) to Brussels Airport and is now repurposing infrastructure in Ghent and Amsterdam to help accommodate soaring demand for SAF blending.

“We are thrilled to announce this collaboration with Evos, a well-established player with access to critical EU infrastructure,” said EcoCeres CEO James Ni. “It allows the repurposing of existing infrastructure, securing green jobs and providing our customers with an easy choice between fossil jet fuel and SAF.”

Evos CEO Harry Deans welcomed the collaboration with EcoCeres as part of broader efforts by the energy and aviation sectors to help decarbonise air transport. “Evos is proud to partner with EcoCeres and support the global transition to lower-carbon aviation,” he said. “This is a significant milestone for Evos Ghent and it enables further decarbonisation of the aviation supply chain.”

In Germany, Holborn Europa Raffinerie, an emerging producer of SAF and renewable diesel, has chosen Danish company Topsoe to provide technology to enable the conversion of waste and residue materials to low-carbon fuels.

Holborn, which already produces fuels and heating oils at its Hamburg refinery for that city and other parts of northern Germany, will use Topsoe’s HydroFlex conversion technology to additionally produce up to 220,000 tonnes of SAF and renewable diesel per year from early 2027. It will produce the SAF and HVO within the existing facility.

“Our complex in Hamburg is at the forefront of our commitment to implement the energy transition,” said the refiner’s CEO Lars Bergmann. “As such, it is vital we bring in the best technology to deliver on the high standards and specifications required for the project. Holborn is very pleased to sign this agreement with Topsoe, who are proven market leaders and whose technology is vital for processing our feedstock requirements.”

“To support the energy transition, we need a cleaner long-distance transport sector,” added Elena Scaltritti, Topsoe’s CCO. “A key step in securing this is by increasing production of SAF and renewable diesel. Holborn is spearheading the rollout of SAF in northern Europe through its Hamburg plant and we are proud to be part of this process. We look forward to delivering our technology and continue working with Holborn to accelerate the uptake of SAF in Europe and globally.”

Photo (EcoCeres): The vessel ClearOcean Marauder unloads 10 million litres of SAF to the Evos Ghent terminal

Tony Harrington

Correspondent

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