Diamond Green Diesel to use Honeywell technology for expansion

Renewable diesel producer Diamond Green Diesel has selected Honeywell UOP’s Ecofining process technology for the $1.1bn expansion of its annual production capacity of clean fuel.

Honeywell’s technology will be used by Diamond Green to meet the growing demand for renewable fuels in North America and Europe by expanding a production unit in Norco, Louisiana, US.

Scheduled for completion in late 2021, the expansion will increase the facility’s annual production by almost 150%, to 675 million gallons of renewable diesel per year.

Honeywell UOP renewable energy and chemicals business senior business leader Jim Andersen said: “Demand has steadily increased for renewable diesel in the United States, Canada and Europe as advanced biofuel mandates seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“With the expansion of its facility using our Ecofining technology, Diamond Green Diesel will continue to meet the growing demand for low-carbon fuels and become one of the largest plants in the world for producing those fuels.”

The expansion will see the addition of a second, parallel plant adjacent to the existing facility.

With the expansion in place, Diamond Green Diesel plans to produce around 60 million gallons per year of renewable naphtha for the production of gasoline.

Developed in alliance with Eni, Honeywell’s Ecofining process converts non-edible natural oils, animal fats and other waste feedstocks to Honeywell Green Diesel.

The converted green diesel is chemically identical to petroleum-based diesel.

Honeywell Green Diesel offers improved performance over commercial biodiesel and petroleum-based diesel, for use as a drop-in replacement in vehicles with no equipment modifications.

Furthermore, it features an 80% life cycle reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions when compared to diesel from petroleum.

The technology comprises higher-cetane diesel value to provide better engine performance with lower emissions.

Diamond Green Diesel biomass-based diesel is qualified as Advanced Biofuel under the US EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard.