CropEnergies AG, a Mannheim, Germany-based renewable ethanol producer, said it will invest more than EUR100 million (US$109.5 million) into various projects at the production site of its subsidiary Ensus U.K. Ltd. in Wilton, United Kingdom, by 2025.
The investments will enhance the overall profitability of the site as well as its competitiveness, reduce CO2 emissions and strengthen its position on the European ethanol and protein markets.
The major part of the investment will be the construction of a new unit for the production of high-protein animal feed. The new product, which will be marketed under the brand name EnPro, is a high-protein product aimed at U.K. and European aquafeed and pet food markets. The total investment will be approximately EUR75 million, with commissioning being scheduled for 2025.
Additional investments are mainly aimed at improving plant reliability and reducing emissions. Some of the installed feed driers will be replaced or upgraded. Another project is the installation of a mechanical vapor recompression unit which will also bring about significant reductions of CO2 emissions.
“By turning feed grain into high-protein feed with a wider range of applications, we are diversifying our product range and also helping to address the U.K.’s protein shortage,” said Dr. Stephan Meeder, CEO and chief financial officer of CropEnergies. “EnPro is a product which fits perfectly into CropEnergies’ dedication to a circular economy. We utilize all of our raw materials and refine them into products which benefit the markets in which we operate. We look forward to Ensus adding another high-quality protein feed which is unique in the U.K. market to the CropEnergies portfolio.”
CropEnergies was founded in 2006 and is a member of the Südzucker Group. With a production capacity of 1.3 million cubic meters of ethanol per year, CropEnergies produces neutral alcohol as well as technical alcohol (ethanol) for a wide range of applications at locations in Germany, Belgium, the U.K. and France.
