In the United States (US), Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC), a leading, integrated, downstream energy company has announced that it has applied for permits to convert its Martinez Refinery in Martinez, California (CA) to a renewable diesel facility.
While the Martinez conversion project is still being evaluated, seeking permits is an important step toward producing lower-carbon-intensity fuels in California for California. If the project is commissioned, the Martinez facility would be expected to start producing renewable diesel in 2022, with a build to full capacity in 2023.
At full capacity, Marathon would expect to produce approximately 730 million (US) gallons (≈ 2.76 billion litres) per year of renewable fuels – predominately renewable diesel – from such biobased feedstocks as animal fat, soybean oil, and corn oil.
According to a statement, manufacturing renewable fuels in Martinez aligns with Marathon’s focus on meeting the world’s growing energy needs while reducing its carbon emissions. Renewable diesel has a significantly lower carbon footprint than petroleum diesel and is a “drop-in” replacement for traditional fossil-based diesel fuel.
In line with its company-wide commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity by 30 percent below 2014 levels by 2030, Marathon’s conversion of the Martinez facility from a petroleum refinery to a renewable diesel facility is anticipated to reduce the facility’s stationary GHG emissions by approximately 60 percent, total criteria air pollutants by 70 percent and water use by 1 billion gallons (≈ 3.785 billion litres) per year.
The Martinez project would if realised join a portfolio of Marathon renewable fuels projects that have been ongoing for years, including the conversion of the Dickinson Refinery in North Dakota (ND) to a renewable diesel plant; investment in its advanced biofuels subsidiary, Virent; biodiesel production at Marathon’s Cincinnati facility; and ethanol production through a Midwest joint venture.
