US military to use UOP renewable diesel process

Honeywell's UOP announced Wednesday that its advanced process technology will be used to produce renewable diesel for the US military through the US Department of Defense's advanced drop-in biofuels production project. 

Emerald Biofuels will use Honeywell’s UOP/Eni Ecofining process technology to refine non-edible oils and animal fats into renewable diesel. It is also known as Honeywell Green Diesel, which is a drop-in replacement for conventional diesel derived from petroleum. 

Emerald is being supported by a $70 million contract from the Defense department project, which is focused on creating economically viable production capacity for advanced drop-in biofuels, including feedstocks, refining, transportation and logistics. 

Emerald is expected to produce 85 million gal/year of renewable diesel under the project.

“Our renewable process technology leverages UOP’s 100 years of refining expertise to produce Honeywell Green Diesel, a drop-in diesel that, unlike biodiesel, is chemically identical to petroleum-derived diesel and does not require changes to engines or fuel infrastructure,” said Veronica May, vice president and general manager of UOP’s renewable energy and chemicals business unit. 

“This proven technology is being used in commercial production today," she added.

In 2012, UOP announced it signed an agreement to license Ecofining technology to Emerald to produce 85 million gal/year of Honeywell Green Diesel at a facility on the Gulf Coast. Ecofining technology is also being used by Diamond Green Diesel in Norco, Louisiana, to produce renewable diesel from used cooking oil and other feedstocks.