- The facility will produce 820,000 tonnes of biofuels annually, starting in 2024.
- It aims to reduce 2.8 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
- The project involves advanced technology for carbon capture and storage.
- Shell plans to reduce traditional fuel production by 55% by 2030.
Project Overview
Shell has announced a final investment decision to build an 820,000-tonnes-a-year biofuels facility at the Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Rotterdam, formerly the Pernis refinery. This facility will be one of Europe's largest for producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel from waste materials.
Environmental Impact
The facility is expected to produce enough renewable diesel to avoid 2.8 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, equivalent to removing over 1 million European cars from the roads. It will help the Netherlands and Europe meet emissions reduction targets and support Shell's goal of becoming a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050.
Advanced Technologies
Advanced production methods will be employed, including technology to capture and store carbon emissions in an empty gas field beneath the North Sea through the Porthos project. A final investment decision for Porthos is expected next year.
Production and Feedstocks
The facility will produce low-carbon fuels such as renewable diesel from waste materials like used cooking oil, waste animal fat, and other industrial and agricultural residual products. Certified sustainable vegetable oils will supplement these waste feedstocks until more advanced options are available. The facility will not use virgin palm oil.
Future Developments
The Rotterdam biofuels facility is part of Shell's broader strategy to transform its refineries into energy and chemicals parks, aiming to reduce traditional fuel production by 55% by 2030. The project complements Shell's plans to build a 200-megawatt hydrogen electrolyser in the Port of Rotterdam and the Porthos CCS project, both aimed at further decarbonizing operations.
