Porto, Portugal – February 21st, 2023: IncBio, a leading engineering company specializing in advanced biodiesel and renewable energy technologies, has signed a contract with an undisclosed client in Portugal to engineer and construct a 2 tons per hour (16,000 tons per year) feedstock pre-treatment plant. The plant will process highly contaminated feedstocks, including used cooking oil (UCO), animal fats, and other waste fats, ensuring they meet the stringent contamination levels required for processing by biodiesel, HVO (renewable diesel), and SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) plants.
HVO and SAF plants use complex and expensive catalysts that are sensitive to contaminants in feedstock. Deactivation of these catalysts can lead to significant cost increases and operational inefficiencies. Therefore, it is critical to ensure that feedstock contamination is below the maximum allowable levels to maintain catalyst effectiveness.
The plant will feature advanced wet degumming, enhanced by IncBio’s ultrasonic cavitation reactors, followed by a bleaching process. This combination guarantees efficient removal of contaminants, ensuring that the feedstock is within the required specifications for further processing in HVO and SAF plants.
As with other IncBio projects, the plant will be constructed using skidded modules, which are fully assembled at IncBio’s facility and transported to the client’s site for easy, quick assembly. This modular construction method reduces installation time and costs, ensuring a faster and more streamlined project execution.
José Marques, CEO of IncBio, commented: “This pre-treatment plant represents a critical step in ensuring the efficiency of renewable fuel production. By removing contaminants from challenging feedstocks, we are supporting the sustainability and profitability of both HVO and SAF production.”
The plant is expected to be operational by early 2025, contributing to Portugal’s growing renewable energy sector.