Triangle Energy (Global) Ltd has started a front-end engineering design (FEED) study for a proposed 5,000 barrel per day modular, flexible feed Renewable Fuel Refinery (RFR) in Western Australia.
A concept study and pre-FEED study have already indicated the potential viability of the project, which will target the deployment of modern, modular technology to process crude, condensate and bio-crude feedstocks to produce renewable diesel and renewable marine fuel blends.
Triangle Energy is an oil producer and explorer with a majority interest in, and operator of, the producing Cliff Head Oil Field offshore Perth Basin and which includes the Arrowsmith Stabilisation Plant.
TEG’s energy transition strategy
“The Triangle Energy team is very pleased to announce our investigation into the potential to establish a modern, modular renewable fuel refinery by leveraging our existing infrastructure in the Perth Basin," Triangle Energy CEO and managing director Rob Towner said.
“The proposed 5,000 barrel per day facility would be suitable for bio-crude fuel stocks as well as crude and condensate products from our Cliff Head Joint Venture as well as other onshore and offshore operations in the state.
“The facility will also be a potential future consumer of hydrogen and have important benefits for Western Australia’s fuel security after the planned closure of the Kwinana refinery later this decade.
“I look forward to sharing further details of Triangle Energy’s exciting diversification and energy transition strategy in the coming months.”
The proposed RFR Project will provide essential blended renewable fuel refining capacity in Western Australia and be a net consumer of hydrogen, with up to 1,500kg used per day in the processing of fuel.
This will provide a key local demand to further enhance the production of hydrogen in Western Australia and assist in the overall transition to greener fuels.
Renewable hydrocarbon fuel
While ‘renewable hydrocarbon fuel’ may seem like an oxymoron, clean diesel and other oil-based fuels are possible to produce by breaking down energy-dense biomass like algae, fermented sugar, or vegetable and animal fats into fuel that is chemically identical to fossil-fuel derived sources.
This means they are automatically compatible with current engines and could possibly replace fossil-fuel based fuels that cannot be substituted by more environmentally friendly chemical energy storage like lithium-ion batteries or hydrogen.
Triangle Energy is proposing a blended ‘renewable’ fuel refinery that will consume feed from both bio-derived crude oil and crude and condensate from Western Australian producers to create Australia’s first flexible feed, modular blended diesel and marine fuel refinery.
North American group Plant Process Group LLC has been selected to undertake FEED work due to its extensive experience in the delivery of modern, modular renewable diesel refining capacity in North America.
The application of unique catalyst refining technology will be the first deployment of coprocessing renewable fuel refining in Australia.
FEED will begin immediately and is expected to be completed by Q1 CY2022, with first production intended for Q1 CY2024.