ecoMotion celebrates 25 years of biodiesel production in Europe

Image: Saria Group

European biodiesel producer ecoMotion, part of the multinational Saria Group, is celebrating 25 years of commercial biodiesel manufacturing this summer.

A pioneer in the European biodiesel industry, ecoMotion has been producing and marketing biodiesel since 2001.

Using innovative technologies, ecoMotion manufactures biodiesel from animal fats, waste cooking oils and vegetable oils.

Its total production capacity is more than 300,000 metric tons a year from five production facilities: three in Germany, one in Denmark and another in Spain.

“ecoMotion as we know it today was not built overnight,” Saria stated. “Its roots go back to 2001, when the first plants began turning animal fats and used cooking oils into renewable transport fuels. Still, the company’s development was shaped by technical progress, adaptation to market conditions in the biofuels sector, and evolving regulatory requirements, including sustainability criteria and diverse certification requirements across EU countries. This year, we look back on 25 years of biodiesel production in Germany, Spain and Denmark—a milestone made possible by the expertise and commitment of many colleagues, partners and customers.”

One of those partners over the years has been BDI-BioEnergy International, the Austria-based biodiesel process technology pioneer and plant builder that is celebrating 30 years of operation this year.

“We are proud to have been part of this journey and to have contributed our expertise through the development and construction of many of these plants,” BDI stated. “These projects demonstrate the power of innovation, partnership and the smart use of waste- and residue-based raw materials for renewable fuels. Congratulations to who made this achievement possible—and best wishes for continued success.”

Parent company Saria said, looking ahead, the experience gained from biodiesel production remains an important foundation for its work with waste- and residue-based raw materials in renewable fuel markets.

“Long before circular economy and renewable fuels became widely recognized concepts, ecoMotion was already demonstrating the potential of waste- and residue-based feedstocks,” Saria said. “The knowledge, commitment and entrepreneurial spirit of ecoMotion’s teams across Europe have been essential in transforming an ambitious idea into a long-term success story. Their expertise, resilience and ability to adapt have enabled ecoMotion to remain at the forefront of renewable fuels for more than two decades. Thank you to everyone who has helped shape this development over the years.”  

Click here for a visual timeline of ecoMotion’s progress over the past 25 years.