European biopropane fuel produced in Rotterdam

Neste has realised a new facility for the production of biopropane fuel, or bio-LPG, at its refinery in the Maasvlakte, part of the Europort near Rotterdam. This new fuel produces considerable lower carbon emissions and can be used without further adaptations by any equipment powered by conventional LPG. Neste will sell the biopropane to SHV Energy, which will be marketing the fuel in Northwest Europe. As such, Neste and SHV Energy stand to make an innovative contribution to the further development of the circular economy.

NEXBTL technology

Neste’s NEXBTL technology allows the company to make renewable, top quality products from virtually any type of vegetable oil or waste animal fat. Kaisa Hietala, Vice President of Renewable Products at Neste, said: “We have developed an innovative renewable product family based on our NEXBTL production technology. Bio-LPG is the latest addition to our list of renewable products,” said Hietala. “It ensures that customers in Europe will be able to use this new renewable product and enjoy its environmental benefits and other unique properties.” Bio-LPG offers a number of advantages. The fuel cannot only be produced from residues: greenhouse gas emissions during combustion are also lower.

Cleaner alternative

"Bio-LPG is a wonderful addition to our product portfolio that will yield a lot of advantages for our clients," says Fulco van Lede, Management Board Member of SHV Energy. “The fuel can be used within a full range of existing LPG applications, from transport and commercial heating to retail leisure cylinders, demonstrating the versatility of the fuel without having to change conventional equipment. In addition, bio-LPG offers our rural customers an even cleaner energy alternative to the high carbon fuels that many of them are still dependent on in off-grid areas.”

International interest

The Netherlands is not the only country that has shown a strong interest in this product. The UK Department for Transport has included bio-LPG in its renewable transport fuel programme, and distributor SHV Energy is working with customers and policy makers in France, Germany, Ireland, Scandinavia and the Benelux on the development of similar schemes to promote the adoption of bio-LPG in a growing number of countries.

Adapted from press release by Rosalie Starling

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/refining/11022016/european-biopropane-fuel-produced-in-rotterdam-2451/