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Ensus operates one of the world’s largest cereal grain biorefineries at Wilton on Teesside in North East England. Ensus refines locally grown animal feed wheat to produce over 400 million litres of bioethanol, 350 thousand tonnes of high protein animal feed, and 300 thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide for use in soft drinks and food production each year. The biorefinery uses electricity and steam supplied by a combined heat and power plant.
Renewable transport fuel
Ensus produces enough biofuel to meet one third of the UK’s bioethanol demand under the UK’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), and generates carbon savings equivalent to taking 300,000 cars off the road. The RTFO requires that a proportion of all transport fuel sold in the UK should come from renewable sources in order to combat global warming, and this target will rise to 5% over the next few years.
More sustainable animal feed
Ensus is one of Europe’s largest producers of animal feed materials. The 350 thousand tonnes of high protein animal feed produced each year reduces UK and European demand for soy meal imports that contribute to deforestation pressures in South America.
Captured CO2
The fermentation process also produces pure carbon dioxide, which is being captured and sold to Yara. The gas is liquefied on site for distribution to food, drinks and industrial customers in the UK and Europe.
The Ensus biorefinery and supply chain has been designed according to strict sustainability criteria. The low greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from our biorefinery process and feedstock supply chain deliver significant GHG savings compared to the fossil fuels replaced by Ensus biofuel. Further GHG savings are achieved in the food supply chain from reducing the use of imported soy meal.
The Group raised £250 million to build the plant, and a further £60m investment has been made by related parties. These investments support over 2000 jobs in the UK’s farming, logistics and manufacturing industries, and accelerate the development of the North East UK region as a new green industrial hub.
Ensus plans to build a number of plants across Europe, and will create value through a growth strategy based on:
1. World scale plants using proven technologies, integrating with existing transport and utilities infrastructure, and focusing on conversion yield and energy efficiencies that will also deliver significant greenhouse gas savings
2. Co-product value, consistently producing high quality animal feed ingredients that meet the needs of Europe’s animal producers and feed compounders, whilst reducing agricultural pressure on high carbon stock land outside Europe
3. Competitive feedstock sourcing, locating capacity near Europe’s regional wheat surpluses and close to ports for access to international feedstock markets
4. Strong strategic partners, with the ability to support the growth aspirations of the Group
• Aerial view of Wilton site.