Vopak opens 16 new tanks to back sustainable energy production in Rotterdam port

Independent tank storage company Vopak has opened 16 new tanks at its Vlaardingen terminal in the port of Rotterdam to help meet the rising demand for energy from renewable sources in Europe.

The new tanks have a combined capacity of 64,000 cubic metres and are designed to store waste-based feedstocks for the production of biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel.

Vopak Vlaardingen has a long-term commercial agreement with Shell to store the feedstocks for Shell’s new biorefinery in Rotterdam which will be one of Europe’s largest sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facilities, producing SAF and renewable diesel from waste materials such as used cooking oil, waste animal fat, and other residual products.

Vopak’s Vlaardingen terminal is strategically located in the Port of Rotterdam and is well-connected for logistics via vessels, barges, trucks, and trains. In 2021, the company started repurposing part of the terminal for waste-based feedstocks that supports the energy transition and has invested approximately €90 million in new infrastructure to further diversifies the Vlaardingen portfolio with state-of-the-art assets.

This project is said to be in line with Vopak’s strategic goal to accelerate towards new energy by developing infrastructure solutions that support customers and society in decarbonisation.

As previously announced, Vopak will accelerate its portfolio investments towards new energies and sustainable feedstocks by allocating €1 billion in growth capital to these activities by 2030. This is half of Vopak’s growth capital allocation till 2030.

The company focuses on infrastructure solutions for low-carbon and renewable hydrogen, ammonia, CO2, long-duration energy storage and sustainable feedstocks.