A new partnership between Topsoe and CountryMark will see the farmer-owned cooperative's Indiana refinery use HydroFlex® technology to produce renewable diesel from local soybean oil.
CountryMark, a long-standing farmer-owned cooperative, has announced a landmark collaboration with Topsoe, a global leader in energy transition technologies, to introduce renewable diesel production at its Mount Vernon, Indiana, refinery. The project, which utilizes Topsoe’s proven HydroFlex® technology, is a major investment aimed at enhancing both environmental sustainability and local agricultural value.
The CountryMark refinery, located in southwestern Indiana, currently processes 35,000 barrels of crude oil daily. With the integration of Topsoe's technology, the facility is poised to add a new revenue stream and a sustainable product line. The new unit is expected to produce up to 250,000 barrels of renewable diesel annually, a high-quality fuel that can be seamlessly used in existing diesel engines and infrastructure. The refinery is set to begin co-processing renewable feedstocks in September.
The environmental impact of this initiative is substantial. The renewable diesel unit is projected to enable an annual emission avoidance of approximately 84,500 tons of CO2 emissions.
A key aspect of the project is its focus on creating a locally sourced renewable fuel economy. CountryMark will use soybean oil, supplied by Indiana’s farmers, as the primary feedstock for the renewable diesel. This creates a powerful circular economy loop, where the farmers who own the cooperative supply the raw material that is then refined into fuel for their own equipment and the broader community. This partnership provides a stable, in-state market for Indiana’s agricultural products, strengthening the economic ties between the energy and farming sectors.
Henrik Rasmussen, Managing Director of Topsoe Americas, highlighted the strategic importance of the collaboration. “Our collaboration with CountryMark goes back many years," Rasmussen said. "With demand for renewable diesel continuing to grow, we’re excited to partner with CountryMark on their journey to produce cleaner fuels and contribute to America’s low-carbon energy future.”
Echoing this sentiment, CountryMark President and CEO Matt Smorch added, "We saw this as an opportunity to deliver increased value to CountryMark diesel fuel buyers, increase the demand for Indiana agricultural products, and add value to our refining assets." This move is part of a larger, over $100 million expansion project at the refinery, which also includes other upgrades to improve diesel fuel quality and production.
Topsoe's HydroFlex® technology, which has been in use since 2010, is a key enabler of this growth. The technology is renowned for its flexibility, allowing refineries to convert a wide range of fats, oils, and greases into high-quality, "drop-in" renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
