The prices of gas, electricity, petrol and diesel are rising sharply worldwide for various reasons. It is not only climate change that forces us to face the facts, but also, for example, the corona crisis and all kinds of political developments have consequences for the costs of our energy supply. We are becoming increasingly aware of the fact that energy is expensive and scarce.
These developments ensure that we value products that have an energetic value more and more. During the energy transition, we must also look for solutions that lead to an energy system based on sustainable and CO2-neutral energy sources, where renewable materials provide energy and raw materials.
A good example of a product with an energetic value is animal fat. Animal fat is a by-product from slaughterhouses, which some may see as waste. But the product is very suitable as a raw material for biodiesel for cars or for firing, for example, power stations, steam boilers and combined heat and power installations.
The ecological footprint of animal fat is favorable. Because livestock farming is primarily focused on meat production, animal fat is in principle a by-product or waste product. For the use of animal fat as a raw material for biofuel, biomass is separated and purified by means of biorefinery, after which the components can be used for many different applications on the basis of their specific (functional) properties. New techniques enable us to increasingly clean these by-products or waste products, making them safer and more usable. This gives animal fat more value, for example as a raw material for useful applications such as renewable biodiesel. This can (partly) replace fossil fuel.
In addition, the cycle is closed. In this way, animal fat contributes to a circular economy, in which the raw materials remain in the cycle for as long as possible and the energy transition is feasible and affordable.
Romein Houwink, Sales Manager at Darling Ingredients
