Alfa Laval to provide pretreatment technology for Acelen biorefinery in Brazil

Alfa Laval announced June 29 the signing of a USD$113 million contract to supply hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) pretreatment technology for Acelen’s new biorefinery project in Brazil.

The order, the largest ever signed by Alfa Laval, will be fulfilled in phases until completion of the project expected in 2029.

Biofuels are increasingly recognized as a key component in the shift towards more sustainable energy systems, providing alternatives to fossil fuels across transport, industry and power generation.

This is particularly important in decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors such as shipping and aviation.

Alfa Laval said its technologies are currently deployed in hundreds of biofuel facilities worldwide, supporting producers in optimizing yield, reducing energy consumption and meeting evolving sustainability requirements.

Under the terms of the contract with Acelen, Alfa Laval will deliver its established HVO pretreatment systems, consisting of heat exchangers, separators and engineered components used for all stages of pretreatment operations to Acelen’s new biorefinery, which is scheduled to begin operations in 2029.

The facility is designed to produce over 17,230 barrels (723,660 gallons) per day of mainly sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) via the hydrotreating process utilizing a range of feedstocks including soybean oil, used cooking oil (UCO) and macaúba—a native Brazilian crop with strong potential for biofuel production.

“New projects in the biofuels sector play an important role in expanding production capacity and accelerating energy security,” said Tom Erixon, Alfa Laval’s president and CEO. “Alfa Laval is committed to support this growth by contributing to the new biorefinery of Acelen. This is a testament to the importance of this field, and to the crucial role our reliable, efficient technology plays for our customers and for society as a whole.”

Thanks to Brazil’s visionary energy policies developed over several decades, the country has established itself as a global leader in biofuels, demonstrating the power of long-term commitment to sustainable innovation.

In Acelen’s biorefinery, Alfa Laval’s solutions will be used from the clarification section that takes solids out of the used cooking oils to degumming and absorption units and onwards into a wastewater-treatment unit to further boost the sustainability and profitability of the process.

Alfa Laval said its portfolio of biofuel solutions covers the entire value chain, from feedstock pretreatment and fermentation to separation, purification and heat recovery.

Acelen Renewables is a renewable energy company owned by Mubadala Capital, a global alternative asset-management firm headquartered in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The company is developing an integrated ecosystem for renewable fuel production in Brazil, combining agricultural innovation, industrial technology and the decarbonization of mobility and aviation.

Acelen’s biorefinery project, valued close to USD$3.07 billion, will position Brazil as a global leader in sustainable fuels for aviation and heavy transport, strengthening national energy security and building resilience amid global volatility.