Phillips 66 has begun the first leg of renewable diesel production of its refinery-to-renewables converting process on its San Francisco refining complex in Rodeo, California.
The 120,000 bpd portion of the refinery complex will be turned into a renewable fuels refinery. The company has planned the project to cost USD750-800 million and will involve the construction of new pretreatment units and repurposing of two existing hydrocracking units to enable the production of renewable diesel, renewable gasoline, and sustainable jet fuel.
Upon completion, Rodeo Renewed would be able to produce more than 50,000 bpd of renewable fuels.
In April, the company initiated unit commissioning. In July it hit full production rates of 8,000 bpd of renewable diesel from an existing hydrocracking unit at the refinery that was repurposed to enable the production of renewable fuels.
At the moment, the project is waiting for an internal review by regional California regulators for its selection of HydroFlex for the unit’s conversion to renewable fuel production service. The permit is estimated to the selection of HydroFlex for the unit’s conversion to renewable fuel production service.
The reconfigured hydrotreater is equipped to process a feedstock of 9,000 bpd of soybean and other vegetable oils to produce renewable diesel.
Phillips 66 also plans to shut down the Rodeo carbon plant and 44,500-b/d Santa Maria refining site in Arroyo Grande, California in 2023. Associated crude pipelines are also to be taken out of service in phases starting in 2023.
When the reconfiguration project is complete, Phillips 66’s San Francisco refining complex would no longer produce fuels from crude oil. It would result in anticipated 50% and 75% declines in greenhouse gas and sulfur dioxide emissions, respectively, from the site.
The company expects to complete the full conversion of the refinery to renewable service by the first quarter of 2024.
