Argent Energy launches glycerin refinery at Amsterdam biodiesel facility

Argent Energy, a leading European biofuels manufacturer, has officially launched Europe’s largest facility dedicated to producing biobased technical-grade glycerin at its Port of Amsterdam site in the Netherlands.

The state-of-the-art refinery will upgrade crude glycerin, a byproduct of Argent’s waste-based biodiesel process, into 99.7 percent pure technical-grade glycerin.

This development, set to produce 50,000 tons of glycerin, provides chemical producers—for which glycerin is an important product—with an opportunity to use a biobased alternative that provides clear environmental benefits over synthetic options, according to Argent Energy.

Argent Energy said its biobased glycerin is suitable for a wide range of technical applications and offers a replacement for several petrochemicals, giving industries the opportunity to embrace a circular economy and reduce their reliance on fossil fuel-derived feedstocks.

“We are delighted to officially launch the new glycerin refinery as part of our expansion to our biodiesel facility in the Port of Amsterdam, which will create over 30 new jobs once complete,” said Louise Calviou, the CEO of Argent Energy, at the launch. “Our entrance into the chemical market is driven by our goal to maximize product value and support the circular economy. By upgrading glycerin from our processes into a technical-grade product, we’re giving the chemical industry a biobased option they can confidently use in their own products.”

In attendance at the official launch was Esther Rommel, the provincial executive member for spatial development, economy, ports and recreation in North Holland, who said, “The province of North Holland wants to be fully circular by 2050. I am therefore proud of companies like Argent that invest in the port and contribute to the raw-materials transition. The province will support companies in their journey to circular entrepreneurship, now and in the future.”

Also present at the event was Roon van Maanen, the director of energy and circular industry at the Port of Amsterdam.

“The Port of Amsterdam is proud of this sustainable initiative by Argent Energy in the Amsterdam port area,” van Maanen said. “The opening of the glycerin plant is a big step towards a circular economy where byproducts are upgraded to a new technical-grade product. This fits perfectly into our strategy to be a leading European seaport, focusing on the transition to a sustainable society.”

Fully certified under the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification System GmbH, the product is fully traceable, ensuring the highest sustainability standards.

Argent Energy currently produces over 190,000 tons (approximately 57 million gallons) of waste-based biodiesel per year, supplying it to international markets for road transport, marine and power generation.

Argent Energy continues to scale up its operations and decarbonization efforts, with plans to soon triple biofuel production at its Amsterdam site alone.

The new glycerin refinery includes full distillation and polishing techniques to achieve the high-purity product, with dedicated tanks, pipelines and loading bays to avoid cross-contamination.