Fulcrum BioEnergy to build UK’s first waste to SAF plant at Essar Oil refinery

Fulcrum BioEnergy, based in Pleasanton, California, U.S.A., announced that it will locate its first UK residual waste to sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) plant at the Essar Oil (UK) Limited refinery at Stanlow, Ellesmere Port.

“The UK has a rich history in aviation related innovation, and we are proud to be able to  continue to support the industry with the introduction of our low-carbon, waste-to-jet fuel  platform,” said Jim Macias, president and chief executive officer of Fulcrum. “Launching our  first UK project at Stanlow, in collaboration with Essar, brings tremendous benefits in terms of  plant operability, efficiency of feedstock and fuel product logistics. On-site storage via Stanlow  Terminals Limited and direct access to airport pipelines, make this an attractive site for our project.  Fulcrum’s innovative and patented waste-to-fuels process will help reduce the impacts from  climate change, boost the economy by supplying low-carbon, drop in transportation fuel as well  as bringing high-paying jobs and investment to the North West of England.”  

“We are excited to have been chosen to host Fulcrum’s first UK biorefinery. Stanlow and  the surrounding area is transitioning toward a low-carbon energy cluster for the UK and the  advanced fuel that will be produced from this plant will position Stanlow as the UK’s leading  sustainable aviation fuel hub,” said Stein Ivar Bye, chief executive officer at Essar Oil UK. “We  look forward to supporting Fulcrum with its development and to increase our involvement in the  project.” 

Construction of the “Fulcrum NorthPoint” biorefinery is  expected to begin in late 2023 and will take approximately 18-24 months to complete. Construction is still subject to planning permission and financing.

Fulcrum  NorthPoint will convert several hundred thousand tons of pre-processed waste, which would  otherwise be destined for incineration or the landfill, into approximately 30 million gallons of SAF annually. The biorefinery will utilize Fulcrum’s proprietary  waste-to-fuel process, which will help contribute to the UK’s Net Zero ambitions while generating hundreds of jobs in the region during construction and operations of the project. 

Fulcrum’s first commercial project, the Sierra BioFuels Plant located outside of Reno,  Nevada, U.S.A., is in late-stage construction and is set to begin operations in 2021. The Sierra plant will  be the first commercial-scale plant in the world to convert municipal solid waste, or household  garbage, into low-carbon transportation fuels. In addition to Fulcrum NorthPoint, Fulcrum has an  extensive, global development program underway including the 33 million gallon a year  Centerpoint biorefinery in Gary, Indiana, U.S.A., and a similar sized project in the United States Gulf  Coast region where the company is finalizing site selection. 

For more information about Fulcrum, visit www.fulcrum-bioenergy.com. 

.