Renewable Materials Company Eyes Algae

Neste, the world’s leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel (Neste), is a Finland based company which works to develop sustainable materials and solutions for a circular economy. With this, Neste is interested in bio-based materials, and is interested in using algae as a renewable feedstock for their products. To accomplish this, they are looking to establish an algae production facility in Spain. The goal of this production facility is to enable Neste to perform research and work on commercializing algae. Choosing to establish their production in Spain offers a central location, favorable environment, and expertise in the field.

Neste uses an innovative process which enables them to effectively use microalgal biomass as a feedstock for many applications just as effectively as one may use hydrocarbons from underground oil stores by turning the algal feedstock into a similar composition of purely hydrocarbons. It seems then that the next step for them is to engage in producing their own renewable feedstock.

They wouldn’t be the first to begin producing in Spain - several other microalgae production facilities exist in Spain, most for health products, additives in various products, or feed, so Neste’s motives differ because they want to use algae as a feedstock for larger volume commodities. Therefore they need to operate on a larger scale of production, posing the question – can they overcome the challenges faced in scaling up algae production?