REG announces developments at two US plants

Renewable Energy Group (REG) has finished upgrades to its 30 MMgy biodiesel biorefinery in Mason City, Iowa, US, which enables the plant to produce biofuel from a number of diverse raw materials.

Work on the $20 million (€16 million) project started approximately one year ago, shortly after plant operations were restarted, following REG's acquisition in July 2013.

In addition to the refined vegetable oils the plant processes, the biorefinery can now use a variety of raw materials including inedible corn oil, animal fats and greases.

The plant's frontend technology was also improved, which creates higher yields from free fatty acids in the production process.

'Enhancing the plant's pretreatment and distillation capabilities will enable us to take a broader spectrum of lower-cost feedstocks and produce a high quality product,' says Brad Albin, REG VP of manufacturing. 'The increased feedstock flexibility helps drive greater demand for local feedstock suppliers and keeps more of their products in the Midwest.'

Renewable Energy Group (REG) has also restarted production at its newly-acquired 75 million gallon biorefinery in Geismar, Louisiana.

The first truckloads of REG-9000 renewable hydrocarbon diesel (RHD) have now left the plant. The advanced biofuel meets or exceeds ASTM D975 specifications.

REG acquired the biorefinery from Dynamic Fuels in June this year.