CropEnergies, will invest more than EUR 100 million into various projects in the production site of its subsidiary Ensus UK Ltd. in Wilton, UK, over the next few years.

Ensus operates one of Europe's largest production plants for renewable ethanol at Wilton on Teesside in Northeast England. It also manufactures high-grade animal feed from stillage gained during the production of ethanol such as Distillers' Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS).

The investments will enhance the overall profitability of the site as well as its competitiveness, reduce CO₂ emissions and strengthen its position in 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 the UK and European aquafeed and pet food markets. The total investment will be approximately EUR 75 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 in CO₂ emissions.

Stephan Meeder, CEO and CFO of CropEnergies, said that “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 UK’s protein shortage. EnPro is a product that fits perfectly into CropEnergies’ dedication to a circular economy. We utilize all of our raw materials and refine them into products that benefit the markets in which we operate. We look forward to Ensus adding another high-quality protein feed which is unique in the UK market to the CropEnergies portfolio.”