Biofuels producer Argent Energy announced today it is expanding its second-generation biodiesel production capacity in the port of Amsterdam to 540,000 t/yr.
Argent Energy has produced biodiesel made from waste organic fats and oils since 2005. These raw materials have few or no alternative applications. In 2018 the company invested in a biodiesel facility in Amsterdam's western docklands, which added to its production plants in England and Scotland. Argent Energy will scale up production by 440,000 t/yr of biodiesel at the Amsterdam site, bringing total production capacity there to 540,000 t/yr. No timeline was given for completion.
The company said the expansion is in line with the Dutch coalition agreement's plans for clean mobility and the promotion of biofuels that avoid impacting food supplies. The aim is to provide a significant contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in road and maritime transport with a particular focus on the heavy-duty vehicles sector, Argent said.
According to the Dutch coalition agreement, the Netherlands has set its CO2 reduction target at 60pc in 2030, and plans include cleaner mobility through the promotion of biofuels blending. Amsterdam aims to be climate neutral by 2050, according to the 'Roadmap Amsterdam Climate Neutral 2050'. The city aims to reduce its CO2 emissions by 55pc in 2030 and 95pc in 2050.
