Neste Oil starts up renewable diesel plant in Rotterdam

21 September 2011

Neste Oil announced a successful start-up of Europe’s largest renewable diesel plant in Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Production of NExBTL renewable diesel at the new plant will be ramped up on a phased basis. The construction of plant—started in May 2009— was completed on-schedule and on-budget.

With a capacity of 800,000 t/a, the Rotterdam plant will increase Neste’s total renewable diesel capacity to 2 million t/a. Utilizing Neste’s NExBTL technology, the plant can make flexible use of almost any vegetable oil or waste fat in the production of premium-quality renewable diesel. The plant employs approximately 150 people.

Neste Oil already operates a renewable diesel plant in Singapore that came on stream in 2010 and two plants in Porvoo in Finland that came on stream in 2007 and 2009. All of Neste’s NExBTL plants produce renewable diesel and have the capability to produce NExBTL renewable aviation fuel.

Neste’s NExBTL renewable diesel is a hydrocarbon-based fuel manufactured via refinery hydrogenation of vegetable oils and animal fats. The fuel—a premium diesel that meets specifications for petroleum diesel fuels—is typically blended with fossil diesel to improve its properties. While NExBTL helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the actual reduction depends on the lifecycle emission balance of the feedstock. Palm oil is one of the main feedstocks for the NExBTL plants in Rotterdam and Singapore.

Source: Neste