Alco Energy Rotterdam seeks to be Europe’s most sustainable biorefinery

In the Netherlands, Europe’s largest biorefinery is located in the heart of the Port of Rotterdam. Alco Energy Rotterdam – a relaunch of Abengoa – converts corn into bioethanol fuel in a production process that generates zero waste. The CO₂ released during the process is transported to greenhouses in Westland and the remaining corn pulp is suitable for use as animal feed.

Every thousand kilos of corn produces 330 kilos of ethanol. Almost the same amount of mass remains after the corn sugars have been converted into alcohol. The high protein level of this DDGS (Distiller’s Dried Grain with Solubles) makes it a very much sought-after product in the animal feed industry.

Alco Energy transports the CO₂ released during fermentation in the production process via underground pipelines to the horticulture industry in Westland, so that the greenhouses there do not need to generate CO₂ from fossil fuels.