12.04.2022
BDI helps make Crimson Renewable Energy the largest producer of ultra-low carbon biodiesel in the Western United States.
(Raaba-Grambach, 15.04.2022) BDI-BioEnergy International has opened a next-generation biodiesel production plant in Bakersfield, California. The key innovation: the patented RepCAT technology with a recyclable catalyst. BDI-BioEnergy International is a specialist in technology development and plant construction for biodiesel from Styria, Austria.
Following successful projects in Vienna, Hong Kong and London, BDI-BioEnergy International GmbH has now brought its new RepCAT technology to the USA. In partnership with Crimson Renewable Energy Holdings, LLC – the largest low-carbon biodiesel producer in the Western United States, including California – BDI has built a new biodiesel plant in Bakersfield featuring the RepCAT technology. The plant will mainly operate with waste oils and fats collected in the local region, especially from central and southern California metro areas. The feedstock comes from restaurants, industrial kitchens and food processors, and rendering facilities.
Developed in Styria, used all over the world: BDI RepCAT technology
To ensure that the biodiesel plant meets the highest standards, BDI-BioEnergy International implemented the latest technology – including the RepCAT process, which was developed and patented by BDI itself. RepCAT stands for “REPeatable CATalyst”.
Innovative technologies cut the environmental burden
In the USA, California has led the nation in climate change policy and strongly advocates CO2 neutrality – not least because of the untiring efforts of former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Now BDI has helped advance this transition with trailblazing technology for recycling waste. “As a builder of special processing plants, it’s our mission to use our innovative technologies for a better environment. We are not just developing processes for safe utilization of waste oils and fats, we are helping the world get closer to the climate targets”, says Markus Dielacher, CEO of BDI-BioEnergy International GmbH.
Maximizing feedstock flexibility with a retrofit programme
BDI’s RepCAT technology makes biodiesel production more efficient and more sustainable. Compared to conventional processes, it is exceptionally flexible in terms of the kinds of feedstocks the process can accept. This makes production more economical, because a great variety of lowest-value waste can be fully exploited.
“With this newest generation of biodiesel plant, we can respond to any changes in raw material availability and achieve the maximum possible flexibility,” said Harry Simpson, Crimson’s CEO. “BDI has been a terrific partner and its RepCAT technology is on track to produce a bit over 13-million new gallons for us per year, removing an additional 135,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually.”
This wasn’t the first project BDI did in partnership with Crimson Renewable Energy: it is a sequel to a retrofit project completed in 2016 at the first Crimson biodiesel plant. BDI supplied the technology, the key equipment and the necessary engineering services. With the second plant, Crimson’s total annual production capacity in Bakersfield is now more than 37 million gallons.
To be continued
Currently, BDI is working at full speed on further biodiesel plants using the innovative RepCAT technology for environmentally friendly disposal and upcycling of waste fats to produce high-quality biodiesel. Hermann Stockinger, CSO at BDI: “Our RepCAT technology is already being used successfully in the largest biodiesel plant in Hungary and will soon also be used in Belgium to produce sustainable fuel. The highly efficient use of local resources is an important argument for technology from Styria in this context.”
About BDI-BioEnergy International GmbH
BDI-BioEnergy International GmbH is the market leader in the construction of biodiesel plants. The patented BDI Multi-Feedstock process enables maximum waste material flexibility and guarantees highly efficient economic production. The company thus makes a valuable contribution to minimizing the ecological footprint on the part of each individual customer. The range of services extends from contract research and process development to engineering and scale-up services and customer service. Currently, BDI-BioEnergy International GmbH has around 100 employees.
About Crimson Renewable Energy Holdings, LLC
Crimson Renewable Energy Holdings, LLC and its subsidiaries are the largest producers of ultra-low carbon biodiesel in the Western United States and one the largest used cooking oil and grease trap collection companies on the West Coast. Crimson biodiesel customers ranging from major oil companies to truck fleet operators and national truck stop chains count on Crimson as a highly reliable supply partner for ultra-low carbon biodiesel to achieve their carbon reduction and sustainability goals. Food service establishments ranging from restaurants and food processors to hotels and entertainment venues all rely on Crimson’s SeQuential Environmental Services subsidiary for very dependable, professional waste oil management services. Today, Crimson is one of only a handful companies in the U.S. handling on a large-scale the process from beginning to end: collecting used cooking oil and other waste oils, refining it into biodiesel and refueling fleets, fuel stations and various equipment in our local and regional communities. Thus, Crimson and its SeQuential subsidiaries help deliver critical environmental and economic benefits to the communities and regions where they operate.
Contact for further information:
Andreas Pickl
Public Relations
BDI-BioEnergy International GmbH
Parkring 18
A-8074 Raaba-Grambach
T +43 316 4009 100
[email protected]