BDI-BioEnergy International AG has successfully completed the expansion of a biodiesel plant in Spain. With implementation of BDI’s high-FFA esterification technology, low-grade oils and fats will be converted into second-generation, standards-compliant biodiesel.

ecoMotion Biodiesel S.A., a company of the international SARIA Group, commissioned BDI for installation of a high-FFA esterification unit in its Barcelona biodiesel plant.

BDI had already been commissioned with the construction of a multifeedstock biodiesel plant in Barcelona in 2002. In 2006, BDI increased the overall plant capacity to 31,000 tons (9.3 million gallons) per year. The plant’s efficiency and raw material flexibility are increased considerably as a result of the current expansion.

 As the general contractor, BDI completed this retrofit project on time and handed it over after a successful acceptance run. As part of the order, the complete process control system of the plant was also brought up to date.

“Biodiesel producers are currently facing major challenges as a result of uncertainties with regard to the future European biofuel policy,” said Edgar Ahn, a member of BDI’s board and the company’s chief science officer. “However, the use of waste and residual materials is safeguarded due to the positive environmental aspects. With the BDI RetroFit Program, we can already integrate the necessary, well-developed solutions in plants for the requirements of tomorrow. We also managed at ecoMotion Spain to prove again our lead regarding technologies for the biodiesel production from the most challenging animal byproducts available on the market.”