Gidara Energy receives environmental permit for biobased methanol facility at Port of Amsterdam

A rendering of Gidara Energy's advanced methanol plant to be located at the Port of Amsterdam (Image: Gidara Energy)

Gidara Energy announced in May that it has secured a key environmental permit for its advanced methanol production facility in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, which the company called a major step forward in its mission to decarbonize the industry.

The environmental permit, granted by the province of Noord-Holland, allows Gidara Energy to build its advanced methanol facility, which will convert local waste into advanced methanol.

The renewable methanol facility, located in the Port of Amsterdam, will use Gidara Energy’s patented HTW® gasification technology to convert waste into biobased methanol, a versatile fuel that can be used in road transport, in the maritime sector, and for producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Obtaining this permit is a major milestone in the development of the facility, enabling the production of renewable fuels and, in the future, high-quality circular chemicals.

The process of obtaining the permit included a detailed review of the project, including a thorough assessment of its potential environmental impacts, a public-consultation process, and a full review of its proposed design and construction plans to ensure the facility meets all applicable environmental standards.

Gidara Energy has worked closely with the local authorities and scientific experts to ensure that the facility will have minimal environmental impact and be safe for the community, while meeting the growing global demand for advanced methanol and renewable energy.

Gidara Energy’s founder, Wim van der Zande, and CEO Norbert Kamp, jointly expressed enthusiasm for the permit.

“We are thrilled to have earned this permit and are eager to get to work building our advanced methanol facility,” they said. “This facility is a major step forward in our mission to reduce global carbon emissions and create a more circular economy. We thank the permitting authorities for their diligent and thorough review and look forward to continuing to work with them as we move ahead with the construction of our facility.”

The facility is set to be built at BioPark, what Gadara Energy says is the primary development site for producers of renewable fuels in the Port of Amsterdam.

The plant will convert approximately 360,000 tons of waste into 90,000 tons of renewable methanol every year.

“Congratulations to Gidara Energy on this important step in the realization of their sustainable methanol plant,” said Roon van Maanen, head of energy the circular industry at the Port of Amsterdam. “The Port of Amsterdam facilitates companies that promote circular activities and the energy transition. Gidara’s plant, which transforms waste into methanol, is a stellar example that will fit seamlessly into our port’s sustainability goals. We look forward to the moment they break ground.”