European Chemical Industry News & Insights

Cepsa Awards Técnicas Reunidas Engineering Contract for 2G Biofuels Plant in Huelva

At a glance
  • The plant will have a flexible production capacity of 500,000 tons of renewable diesel and SAF annually.
  • The project involves an investment of up to 1 billion euros.
  • Técnicas Reunidas will assign over 180 experts and dedicate 500,000 hours to the project.
  • Cepsa aims for an annual production capacity of 2.5 million tons of biofuels by 2030.

Project Overview

Cepsa has awarded Técnicas Reunidas the contract for the detailed engineering of the largest second-generation (2G) biofuels plant in southern Europe. The plant, located at the La Rábida Energy Park in Huelva, Spain, will involve an investment of up to 1 billion euros.

Production Capacity

The new facility will use agricultural waste and used cooking oils as feedstock, featuring two pretreatment units. It will have a flexible production capacity of 500,000 tons of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) annually, aimed at decarbonizing air, maritime, and land transport.

Engineering and Construction

Técnicas Reunidas will handle the engineering, procurement management, and construction management support for the plant. The scope includes the renewable fuels unit, amine regeneration unit, acid water unit, service generation units, interconnections, storage tank farm, and loading/unloading facilities. Over 180 experts will be assigned, dedicating 500,000 hours to the project.

Environmental Impact

The sustainable fuels produced at the plant will reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90% compared to traditional fuels, equating to a reduction of 1.5 million tons of CO2 per year. This is equivalent to 30% of emissions in the province of Huelva.

Future Goals

Cepsa aims to become the leading supplier of 2G biofuels in Spain and Portugal by 2030, with an annual production capacity of 2.5 million tons of biofuels, including 800,000 tons of SAF. The company has set a roadmap to cut its CO2 emissions by 55% by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.