REG leverages Wood as EPC contractor for Geismar plant expansion

The U.K.-based John Wood Group plc, known as Wood, announced Nov. 2 that it is providing engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) management services under contract with Renewable Energy Group Inc. for its major renewable diesel expansion project in Geismar, Louisiana, which officially broke ground last month. The project will take REG’s renewable diesel production capacity in Geismar from 90 million gallons per year (mgy) to 340 mgy, enhance existing operations, and improve operational reliability and logistics.

“We’re seeing increased focus by companies using a multitude of renewable feedstocks that can deliver low-carbon fuels to customers, and this is clearly at the heart of REG’s strategy,” said Steve Conway, senior vice president of Wood’s business in the Americas. “In addition to our extensive track record of delivering a diverse portfolio of EPC projects along the U.S. Gulf Coast, we have significant knowledge of renewable diesel processing facilities. This strongly positions us to enable REG to achieve a key pillar of its growth strategy through the expansion of Geismar and its renewable fuel offering to support its customers’ decarbonization goals.”

CJ Warner, REG president and CEO, said, “We are committed to helping lead the transition to cleaner, greener energy. This project is an exceptional example of that, and will enable us to deliver more sustainable fuels that our forward-looking customers are demanding. The team at Wood has been excellent to work with and will serve as an essential partner to the overall success of our project.”

The nearly $1 billion project is expected to be mechanically complete in 2023 and in full operation in 2024.

In September, Wood and Honeywell announced a partnership of technologies in which Wood’s hydrogen plant technology combined with Honeywell’s UOP Ecofining process can produce a carbon-neutral sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).