NEXBTL technology

Neste is the largest producer of renewable diesel and jet fuel in the world. This is possible thanks to our proprietary NEXBTL technology – a unique platform that allows us to turn a wide variety of renewable fats and oils into premium-quality renewable products, such as fuels and feedstock for polymers and chemicals production.

Our know-how in refining difficult raw materials has a long history. Over the years, our engineers have had to find ways of refining challenging low-quality crude oil into transportation fuels. This knowledge laid the foundation for developing our unique refinery platform that can process a great variety of fats and oils from renewable sources.

As an example: unlike conventional biodiesels, the quality of Neste MY Renewable Diesel™ remains excellent even when we produce it from lower-quality waste and residues

Renewable products based on NEXBTL

Neste MY Renewable Diesel™ can be used as a drop-in solution to replace fossil diesel, as their chemical compositions are similar.  The fuel can be blended in any ratio with fossil diesel – or used as a neat product at 100% concentration. 

Due to its chemical consistency, it can also replace fossil raw material in other applications, such as in turbines, generators, ships, yachts, and the working machines, while it can also be used in mines and at construction sites.

The NEXBTL technology can also be used to produce renewable aviation fuel or Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) as the industry calls it.

With NEXBTL technology, we are also able to produce renewable raw material, Neste RE™, for instance for the production of renewable plastics or chemicals, as well as Neste Renewable Isoalkane, a renewable solvent e.g. for paints.

The NEXBTL process

Turning diverse renewable sources into pure hydrocarbons requires several processes. The heterogeneous raw material has to become a homogenous product, and the energy density of the product must match that of its fossil counterparts.

1. Raw materials: Global sourcing of renewable raw materials is the foundation of all Neste's renewable products. A reliable network of raw material sources and an optimized logistics chain to the nearest renewable products refinery are the keys to making commercially viable products.

2. Pre-treatment: Renewable raw materials contain various impurities, some quite challenging, that have to be removed before further refinement. 

3. NEXBTL: Compared with fossil raw material, biogenic fats and oils contain oxygen that is also an undesired element e.g. in fuels. In a catalytic process called hydrodeoxygenation, oxygen atoms are removed with hydrogen atoms. This creates a pure hydrocarbon with high energy density.

4. Next the hydrocarbons are isomerized to tune the properties of the end products diesel, gasoline, jet fuel or renewable feedstock for polymers and chemicals production. In the process the hydrocarbon structure is branched to create the desired properties.  

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