Nova Scotia biodiesel project plans 100 percent export to Germany
Biofuel Weiss Inc. is developing a 7 MMgy continuous flow multifeedstock biodiesel production facility in Atlantic Canada, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. According to Ian Weiss, CEO of Weiss Biofuel, the process technology “is a modern but standard two-stage continuous transesterification unit” built in Europe and shipped to Canada.
While earlier this year Weiss anticipated startup for September or October, he now says that timeframe has been slightly delayed due to a late final construction permit. “Hopefully we will have our test start by the end of the year, starting with [operating at] one-third of maximum capacity,” Weiss told Biodiesel Magazine. “All of the processing equipment is stored in a nearby warehouse and is ready to be installed in the new building when it’s ready,” he added.
Biodiesel made at the Biofuel Weiss plant won’t be used to satisfy any Canadian biodiesel blending requirements though, nor will it be shipped to the U.S. to help fulfill RFS2 requirements. The facility, whose investors and engineering team are either European or have double citizenship, is being developed exclusively for exporting biodiesel to Germany.
“We are different than the other [biodiesel facilities] in Canada because our business model is based on 100 percent export to Germany,” Weiss said. “We went through the difficult double certification process, Canadian and German (DIN)/EU (EN).”
Feedstock for the 7 MMgy facility will mostly be used cooking oil (UCO) from Atlantic Canada, as Weiss said the company is partners with a majority of the regional collectors. In addition to UCO, other feedstocks will include animal fats, fatty acids and, as a last option, second-grade virgin canola oil, if the price and availability work, Weiss said.
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