Biodiesel producer Greenergy develops fuels project using waste tires in UK

U.K.-based biodiesel producer Greenergy is developing a project to manufacture synthetic diesel and gasoline fuels from 300 tons of waste tires per day. Upon approval, the project is expected to be developed at Thames Enterprise Park, a Greenergy joint venture near London. Greenergy anticipates commercial production to begin in 2025.

The project will use pyrolysis and hydrotreating technologies to make waste-based fuels that qualify as development fuels under the U.K.’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation.

A second hydrotreating unit would have the ability to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from waste tires.

The manufacturing process will also create recovered carbon black, a recycled material that can be used for the manufacture of new tires and other industrial rubber products.

The project will use thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions’ advanced thermal treatment technology and Haldor Topsoe’s trademarked HydroFlex renewable fuels technology.

“We have been exploring innovative ways to produce liquid fuels from different waste products to continue to create new forms of development fuels and deliver further carbon savings in the years ahead,” said Christian Flach, CEO of Greenergy. “This milestone for the project is a key part of our strategy to expand our industry leading renewables business. Our customers will continue to benefit from our integrated approach to manufacturing and blending of renewable fuels.”

Fei Chen, a senior vice president with Haldor Topsoe, said, “We are excited to work closely with Greenergy and their partners to build the world’s first commercial plant to produce low-carbon transportation fuels from waste tires in the near future. This is very much in line with Topsoe’s vision to be recognized as the global leader in carbon emission reduction technologies by 2024.”

The project is at the Front End Engineering Design stage. The conceptual design was developed in Canada by Green Tire Technology Ltd., led by Roman Cintula, and then implemented in the U.K. in partnership with Greenergy.

According to Haldor Topsoe, an estimated 1.5 billion tires are discarded each year worldwide.