Federated Co-operatives selects Topsoe technology for renewable diesel production in Canada

Last year, the Regina city council approved an offer from FCL to purchase land for its renewable diesel complex. (Photo: Federated Co-operatives Ltd.)

Topsoe, a global leader in carbon emission-reduction technologies, has been selected by Federated Co-operatives Ltd. to officially support the production of renewable diesel in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

FCL has chosen Topsoe’s HydroFlexTM process to produce low-carbon renewable diesel.

“We are proud to have been chosen as the official technology vendor for FCL’s new venture,” said Henrik Rasmussen, Topsoe’s managing director for the Americas. “Driven by our commitment to a sustainable future, we are focused on helping organizations like FCL reach their low-carbon economy goals and objectives.”

The FCL renewable diesel plant, once fully operational, has the potential to produce 15,000 barrels (630,000 gallons) per day, or approximately 215 million gallons per year.

The facility will be part of a larger integrated agriculture complex, which also includes a canola-crushing plant.

FCL expects to be producing renewable diesel in 2027.

“The production of renewable diesel is an important step in our transition to the low-carbon economy,” said Gil Le Dressay, vice president of manufacturing at FCL. “Topsoe is a global leader and we are extremely pleased to work with their team, and to rely on their expertise, to deliver on our goals.”

FCL’s current refinery in Regina produces traditional petroleum products. Combining renewable fuels with those products FCL already manufactures will create a sustainable seed-to-tank solution for fuel production in Western Canada.

Renewable diesel is a low-carbon fuel made from renewable sources and is chemically identical to regular petroleum diesel. This means it produces less greenhouse-gas emissions while performing the same as regular petroleum diesel and can be used without modification to engines or infrastructure.

The feedstocks used to make renewable diesel include vegetable oils such as canola and soybean oil, as well as waste or recycled animal fats and cooking oils. The resultant CO2 produced by the combustion of renewable diesel is essentially recycled back to grow the feedstocks. Therefore, renewable diesel substantially lowers the net amount of CO2 emitted to the atmosphere to help curb the harmful effects of climate change.

With HydroFlex™, customers can convert low-value feedstocks into drop-in renewable jet and diesel that meets all globally accepted specifications for these fuels. The innovative HydroFlex™ process layout offers lower capital expenditure (capex), but also a lower energy consumption during operation, resulting in a lower carbon index (CI).

Topsoe’s HydroFlex™ can be deployed in both grassroots units and revamps for coprocessing or standalone applications.

“HydroFlex™ is by far the most successful renewable fuels technology globally,” Topsoe stated.