Increased production and storage of a new generation of biodiesel will be utilised to expedite decarbonization in the maritime and road transport sectors, according to efforts underway in Amsterdam. By 2024, Argent Energy plans to roughly fivefold its production capacity at its Amsterdam facility and construct new port and storage facilities. Argent Energy, which has been making biodiesel from waste organic fats and oils since 2005, estimates that the expansion of its manufacturing facility in Amsterdam will expand production capacity in the Port of Amsterdam by 440,000 tonnes of biofuel per year. The firm has offices in Amsterdam, England, and Scotland. Annual production in Amsterdam is expected to reach 540,000 tonnes per year.
The production will be for second-generation biodiesel, which does not use food or feed resources. Argent avoids the use of crops but instead uses designated waste raw materials for its production of biodiesel which have few or no alternative applications. Argent Energy’s expansion in Amsterdam includes the development of a new and innovative production process that will bring improved process efficiency and even greater reductions in GHG emissions.
The expansion of the production capabilities comes after the Port of Amsterdam and Argent agreed in January 2022 to jointly invest more than $20 million in new dock facilities in the Hornhaven Amsterdam. The Port of Amsterdam and Argent Energy expect construction to be completed by 2024 with the new facilities consisting of two loading and unloading quays replacing the existing coaster jetty at Argent’s biodiesel plant in the Hornhaven. The new quays will be suitable for barges, coasters, and sea-going vessels up to approximately 30 feet draft and more than 480 feet in length. Furthermore, to cater to larger vessels including MR1 size ships, a new jetty will be constructed with a draft of nearly 40 feet and 600 feet in length.
In addition to the new manufacturing and wharf, they will also construct a new 130,000 m3 tank storage facility to be used for renewable products such as waste-based biodiesel and feedstocks that will be used for the decarbonization of transport. This will increase storage capacity to 230,000 m3, making it one of the larger storage facilities for renewable products.
