BIODIESEL
Crimson Renewable Energy completed its first biodiesel production facility, located in Bakersfield, California, in 2009. This biodiesel production facility has the capacity to produce 25 million gallons per year, and is the largest of its kind in California, and the second largest in the western U.S. This facility is currently being upgraded to handle a wider variety of raw materials, including ultra-low carbon feedstocks such as used cooking oils, waste animal fats, and waste corn oil derived from ethanol production. Additionally, the Crimson Bakersfield facility is one of only a handful of biodiesel plant in the U.S. that can fully utilize its crude glycerin by-product to produce 99%+ refined glycerin.
In California, we currently offer bulk biodiesel fuel to the wholesale market from distribution locations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and Bakersfield. We are continuously engaged in forming partnerships with fuel wholesalers, refiners, terminals and other participants in the value chain for biofuels.
Crimson can consistently offer competitive pricing for biodiesel fuels by leveraging its:
- state-of-the art biodiesel production process
- multi-feedstock capability
- advantageous logistics via proximity to major market centers
Crimson Biodiesel Technology
Crimson has invested significant resources in designing and testing its own innovative biodiesel production process. Crimson’s biodiesel production process is a closed loop, continuous system that minimizes emissions and waste products, and does not create unpleasant odors or high noise levels. Crimson biodiesel production plants feature the application of new technologies and systems for feedstock pre-treatment, transesterification (the chemical process for making methyl esters), glycerin refining and methanol recovery. These process and technology innovations make it possible to consistently achieve higher levels of efficiency and product quality while significantly improving the overall economics of biodiesel production investments. Crimson will also make an ongoing investment in developing and bringing to market meaningful improvements in biodiesel production technology and processes.
Total Commitment to Quality
Our total commitment to excellence and quality is the cornerstone of our biodiesel operations. Crimson is committed to ensuring that our biodiesel will meet or exceed the highest industry standards for fuel quality, storage and handling. These standards include the ASTM D6751 specification for all biodiesel fuel, and pursuing BQ-9000 certification, a voluntary quality assurance and auditing program for the biodiesel industry. We have invested significant resources in onsite quality control, including in-process quality controls, post-production lot segregation, and testing, and regular testing by industry-leading third-party labs to meet these goals.
Support for our Customers
In many instances, fuel wholesalers, distributors and terminals operators are just beginning to consider biodiesel or have only developed limited experience in working with it. Crimson is committed to providing strong, local support and detailed education concerning biodiesel storage and the handling processes that are necessary to ensure a successful experience for all participants in the value-chain for biodiesel fuels.
Use of Multiple Feedstocks
Crimson's biodiesel production facility is designed to process multiple types of feedstock ranging from vegetable oils to algae oil to waste cooking oils and animal fats. The Crimson Bakersfield Biodiesel and Glycerin Production Plant will use primarily waste animal fats, used cooking oils and waste corn oil to produce an ultra-low carbon biodiesel. Crimson works with a variety of feedstock suppliers but in all instances, we strive to work with suppliers who are committed to sustainable practices. Whenever possible, Crimson endeavors to work with regional suppliers. We are an active supporter of, and participant in the University of California Bioenergy Work Group, which is focused on basic and applied research on new bioenergy crop alternatives and farming practices.
Customized Production Capabilities
With its advanced multi-feedstock biodiesel production system and flexible biodiesel storage facilities, Crimson can produce and manage different types of biodiesel fuel to meet specific customer requirements. For example, Crimson can utilize certain feedstocks or blends to produce biodiesel that meets a particular price point or to meet a specific requirement such as a low cold filter plug point for better cold weather durability, higher cetane for more efficient combustion and engine performance, or higher oxidative stability for an extended shelf life.
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