Construction begins on Germany's first GDP complex in a refinery

The complex on the site of the HOLBORN Europa refinery in Hamburg is scheduled to go into operation in early 2027.

With the lifting of a tank container onto its foundation, HOLBORN has today reached a milestone in the development of a GDP (Green Diesel Production) complex on the refinery site in the Port of Hamburg.

The project involves the development of a hydrogenation plant that will produce around 220,000 tonnes of green diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) per year using waste and residual materials as well as low-carbon hydrogen.

From 2027, around 40,000 litres of low-carbon fuel will be produced every hour on a site almost the size of five football pitches – equivalent to around 220,000 tonnes per year, which will be distributed to an increasing number of filling stations in Germany and Europe. This will save around 800,000 tonnes of CO2 in the transport sector. The order value is around 475 million euros.

The plant is scheduled to go into operation in early 2027 and includes a pre-treatment plant, the GDP plant and the connecting infrastructure to the existing plants.

"Green" diesel and kerosene, known on the market as HVO and SAF, are low-carbon fuels made from waste and residual materials with the same chemical properties as fossil diesel and conventional kerosene. At the same time, these fuels offer the advantage of reducing dependence on crude oil and lowering environmental impact. Green diesel is used worldwide as a drop-in biofuel in motor vehicles without the need for engine modifications.

In addition, the use of renewable fuels compared to fossil fuels enables a drastic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and thus meets the sustainability criteria of the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED III).

KT – Kinetics Technology, a subsidiary of Maire Tecnimont SpA, Milan, has been entrusted with the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC). KT's engineering teams have an outstanding track record and are using their technological expertise to create innovative designs for a GDP complex that will provide the HOLBORN refinery with numerous benefits in terms of operational efficiency and CO2 reduction.

Lars Bergmann, Managing Director of HOLBORN Europa Refinery, explained:
"This project is a visible sign of the long-term transformation of our refinery with the aim of establishing renewable and circular solutions in the production of sustainable fuels. In doing so, we are also successfully driving forward the energy transition."