Photo: Pacific Biodiesel
August 31, 2018
BY Ron Kotrba
Pacific Biodiesel has received grant funding from the Hawaii Technology Development Corp. to help reimburse recent facility upgrades and equipment purchases at its 5.5 MMgy biodiesel plant on the big island of Hawaii and waste oil collection center on Oahu.
HTDC’s Manufacturing Assistance Program grant provides up to 20 percent reimbursement on qualified expenses. Pacific Biodiesel received reimbursement for expenses related to facility upgrades, including wastewater pretreatment equipment and a centrifuge system to increase the recovery of yellow and brown greases from trap waste at the company’s Oahu facility. Upgrades at the biodiesel production facility on Hawaii Island included construction of a new shipping and receiving loading bay, ISO container loading platform, a pretreatment filtration trough system and three new reactors for more efficient production and storage capabilities.
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“This grant is a great help as it allows us to invest in new equipment to make our fuel production and oil collection more efficient,” said Jenna Long, Pacific Biodiesel operations director.
Of the 29 Hawaii-based manufacturing companies awarded funding, only six—including Pacific Biodiesel—were repeat recipients of the MAP grant funds.
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“It’s great to be able to offer financial support to local manufacturers, knowing that the funding is used to improve the businesses,” said Robbie Melton, executive director and CEO of HTDC. “The grant helps companies expand their production, resulting in more jobs in Hawaii and contributing to the state’s economy overall.”
Hawaii’s economy has suffered over the past several months from volcanic activity and most recently Hurricane Lane, but Pacific Biodiesel was unscathed by the hurricane. While operations scaled down as a safeguard during the storm, activities are back to normal now.
Oil collection efforts on all islands were, however, temporarily hindered by closures. President Bob King said while the biodiesel plant ceased operations during the record rainfall—“partly because of too much water and partly due to the inter-island shipping coming to a halt with no incoming or outgoing tankers”—the ports have reopened and the plant is now running at capacity.
BWC Terminals on April 22 celebrated the official completion of its expanded renewable fuels terminal at the Port of Stockton. The facility is designed to safely and efficiently transfer renewable diesel and biodiesel from marine vessels.
Repsol and Bunge on April 25 announced plans to incorporate the use of camelina and safflower feedstocks in the production of renewable fuels, including renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Renewable Fuels Month highlights the importance of renewable biofuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel. The month of May marks the beginning of the summer driving season, making it an ideal time to fuel up on clean and cost-saving biofuels.
PBF Energy on May 1 announced that its St. Bernard Renewables facility produced approximately 10,000 barrels per day of renewable diesel during Q1, down from 17,000 barrels per day during the Q4 2024.
Germany-based Mabanaft on April 17 announced it started to supply SAF to airlines at Frankfurt Airport in January. The company said it will deliver more than 1,000 metric tons of SAF to the airport this year under the European SAF mandate.