Alfa Laval has signed a contract worth approximately 1.1 billion Swedish kronor (about €102 million) for the supply of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) pretreatment technology for Acelen’s new biorefinery in Brazil. The project, valued at approximately €2.7 billion, represents one of the most significant investments in biofuel infrastructure in Latin America.
The facility is designed to achieve production exceeding 17,230 barrels per day of renewable fuels, including a significant proportion of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), with commissioning scheduled for 2029. This development reinforces Brazil’s position as one of the most advanced global players in biofuel production.
The contract will be executed in phases until project completion, consolidating a progressive implementation model that reduces execution risks in large-scale projects within the energy sector.
HVO Technology as the Cornerstone of Biofuel Production
The hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) process has become one of the most important technological routes for producing high-quality renewable fuels, including renewable diesel and SAF. Unlike other biofuels, HVO enables the production of fuels with characteristics similar to petroleum-derived products, facilitating their integration into existing infrastructure.
In this project, Alfa Laval will supply pretreatment systems including heat exchangers, separators, and process equipment designed to condition feedstocks such as soybean oil, used cooking oil (UCO), and macaúba, a Brazilian crop with high energy potential.
Pretreatment is a critical stage of the process, as it determines the quality of the feed to the hydrotreating units, directly influencing process efficiency, operational stability, and the final yield of the fuel produced.
Industrial Process Optimization and Energy Efficiency
Alfa Laval’s solutions will be integrated into different stages of the biorefinery process, from initial clarification of used oils to degumming, separation, and wastewater treatment units. This comprehensive approach optimizes energy efficiency and reduces losses in the production chain.
In large-scale biofuel facilities, thermal management and efficient phase separation are determining factors for process profitability. Heat recovery and process flow optimization contribute to reducing the plant’s total energy consumption.
The company’s technology portfolio covers the entire biofuel value chain, enabling it to participate in both initial pretreatment stages and subsequent purification and energy recovery processes.
Brazil and the Global Sustainable Fuels Strategy
The development of this biorefinery is part of Brazil’s long-term strategy to consolidate itself as a global leader in biofuels, leveraging its agricultural capacity, energy infrastructure, and experience in renewable fuels.
The Acelen project, driven by Mubadala Capital, seeks to integrate agricultural and industrial innovation to produce fuels for both ground transportation and aviation, sectors considered priorities in the global energy transition.
This type of investment reinforces the trend toward diversification of technological routes for SAF production, where HVO is positioned as one of the most mature and scalable alternatives in the short and medium term.
Source: https://www.alfalaval.com/
Photo: Shutterstock
