News

EUR 100 million synthetic biofuel plant went on stream - interest shown by German Federal Government

State and Federal Government officials like the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Georg Milbradt, Prime Minister of Saxony, came to Freiberg/Germany on April 17, 2008. They attended the commissioning ceremony of new Beta plant - major newspapers from all over the world reported.

New about the process is: the Carbo V® process, developed in Freiberg, meanwhile a world-patented technology, produces absolutely tar-free fuel or synthesis gas which is made from solid biomass and carbonic feedstock such as wood chips. The synthetic biofuel is much more ecofriendly than the common fuel made from crude oil: Biofuel of the next generation!

Fischer-Tropsch: Rebirth of a process

As of the second half-year 2004 CHOREN elaborated together with EDL Anlagenbau Gesellschaft Leipzig, solutions to produce ecofriendly diesel fuel from synthesis gas through conversion of synthesis gas, CO2 separation, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, hydrocracking and further process stages. Basic and detail engineering were followed by the wide-ranging procurement process for the Beta plant worth some EUR 100 million up to its erection in Freiberg. In peaks more than 60 engineers were involved by EDL at the same time to engineer and supervise construction of the plant.

Chancellor attended commissioning ceremony

The successful completion of construction in spring 2008 was also of interest to town, state and Federal Government officials. Aside from Georg Milbradt, Prime Minister of Saxony, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel attended the Beta plant commissioning ceremony on April 17, 2008.

The power plant incorporated into the plant as well as some off-sites had already successfully been tested and commissioned. Meanwhile, the next plant units are shortly before their hot commissioning. At the same time the first optimizations with respect to availability, ease of handling and safety are being performed.

Biofuel made from wood chips

Now, CHOREN and EDL intensively work on the completion of the plant together with Shell that has been supporting the CHOREN process as technology partner and since 2005 also as investor. In a few months, sellable diesel fuel, also known as SunDiesel®, shall be produced in a four-shift operation. The output of the Freiberg plant will completely be taken over by Shell.

It is expected that further and even higher investments in similar plants will follow. Fuel quality in conjunction with climate protection is not only well received by politics, but is also attractive from the economic point of view.

EDL is proud of having contributed by its engineering and process know-how to this development.