Ensus UK Ltd. has announced that its parent company plans to invest around £90m for a new high protein feed at the Redcar plant in Teesside and improve the overall operational reliability and energy efficiency of all plant operations.

The major part of the investment will be the construction of a new £60m to £70m unit to produce high protein animal feed at the Wilton International plant and its commissioning is scheduled for 2025.

The Wilton International firm’s German parent company – CropEnergies AG will produce EnPro, a high-protein product aimed at UK and European aquafeed and pet food markets.

Census said that for more than a decade, as well as producing renewable ethanol as a road fuel and being the UK’s “main” supplier of biogenic CO2, it has been the UK’s “largest producer of protein animal feed to the farming industry”.

The plant currently produces 350,000 tonnes a year of protein enriched dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGS) primarily for UK cattle and pig farmers.

In a separate investment aimed at improving plant reliability, Ensus is planning to replace one of its feed driers at the plant and upgrade a second.

It is also planning to invest in a project to install a mechanical vapour recompression unit which will also bring about significant reductions of CO2 emissions.

Ensus will partner with U.S. based technology provider Fluid Quip Technologies (FQT), Cedar Rapids, USA, for the design and process engineering of the MSC protein separation technology, which will be used to produce EnPro.

Northallerton-based engineering and professional services company WSP will carry out the balance of engineering design as well as manage the construction of the new facility.

Grant Pearson, chairman of Ensus UK, said: “These major investments are a significant sign of CropEnergies’ commitment to Ensus and the bioethanol business within the UK and Europe.

“The further development of our protein product range is particularly important. By taking feed grains primarily used to feed cattle and turning them into higher protein feeds with wider feedstuff applications, we are not only diversifying our product range and overall sustainability but also helping to address the UK’s protein shortage. The investments are also a recognition by our parent company of the hard work, loyalty and dedication of the team at Wilton over the last 15 years.”

Dr Stephan Meeder, CEO and CFO of CropEnergies AG, added: “EnPro is a product which fits perfectly into CropEnergies’ dedication to a circular economy. We utilise 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 to our portfolio. The investments will also enhance Ensus’ overall competitiveness, profitability and strengthen its position on the European ethanol and protein markets.”