Marathon Petroleum implements Topsoe technology at Martinez renewable diesel facility in California

Photo: Marathon Petroleum Corp.

Topsoe, a global leader in carbon emission reduction technologies, was selected by Marathon Petroleum Corp. as the technology provider for renewable diesel production at its former petroleum refinery in Martinez, California, Topsoe announced Aug. 22.

The facility has been repurposed to produce renewable diesel through the company’s 50/50 joint venture with Neste.

The Martinez complex utilizes Topsoe’s HydroFlex™ technology to convert biobased feedstock into renewable diesel.

The continued partnership between Topsoe and Marathon builds upon the successful operation at Marathon’s Dickinson facility in North Dakota, which also uses Topsoe’s HydroFlex™ renewable fuels technology and achieved design capacity in the second quarter of 2021.

“We are very pleased to continue our close collaboration with Marathon to bring even more renewable fuels to the American market,” said Henrik Rasmussen, managing director of Topsoe in the Americas. “It’s a pleasure working with Marathon on these very successful projects.”

Jeff Sexton, Marathon’s refining-technology director, added, “As we continue to challenge ourselves to lead in sustainable energy, our renewable fuels production facilities in Dickinson and Martinez have been important contributors. The ramp up of our first phase of production capacity at Martinez has been successful, and we look forward to bringing the facility up to full production capacity by the end of this year.”

The Martinez renewable diesel facility is currently operating with a capacity of 260 million gallons per year (mgy).

Additional production capacity is expected to be online by the end of 2023, bringing the total capacity to approximately 730 mgy of renewable fuels.

Renewable fuels are low-carbon fuels that are chemically identical to regular petroleum diesel or jet fuel but made from renewable sources.

These renewable fuels produce fewer greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions while performing the same as regular petroleum diesel or jet fuel.

They can be used as a drop-in fuel without modification to engines or infrastructure.

Renewable fuels are made from waste, animal fats, used cooking oils and organic materials such as soybean oil.

With HydroFlex™, customers can convert low-value feedstocks into drop-in renewable jet and diesel that meets all globally accepted specifications for these fuels.

The innovative HydroFlex™ process layout offers lower capital expenditure (capex), but also lower energy consumption during operation, resulting in lower carbon intensity (CI).

Topsoe’s HydroFlex™ can be deployed in both grassroots units and revamps for coprocessing or standalone applications.

“HydroFlex™ is by far the most successful renewable fuels technology globally,” Topsoe stated.