South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance has recognized Green Energy Biofuel (GEB) as the 2025 Innovator of the Year, honoring our relentless drive to redefine sustainability and transform waste into renewable energy.
Founded in 2008 with a bold mission to “Fuel Our Future while protecting and preserving our environment,” Green Energy Biofuel began as a small cooking oil recycling service for local restaurants. Today, we’ve evolved into a full-service organic waste recycling company, partnering with food manufacturers, municipalities, and commercial kitchens across the Southeastern United States.
At the heart of our operations is a proprietary process that transforms used cooking oil (UCO) into clean-burning biofuel — a renewable alternative to petroleum diesel that significantly reduces harmful emissions. Using mechanical purification and steam-heating technology, we purify UCO in a single pass, repurposing solids into compost, treating water for safe discharge, and converting oil into premium biofuel feedstock.
Innovation at Every Step
Our journey has always been guided by innovation — from technology and infrastructure to sustainability and community partnerships.
- GEB3, our high-volume, rail-connected facility, can process over 200,000 gallons per day — a 90% capacity increase over our previous site — while reducing cost per gallon by 60%.
- Shipping costs have dropped by 40%, and transport-related carbon emissions by 50%.
- Our first-of-its-kind wastewater processing system for fats, oils, and greases (FOG) now handles 1 million pounds of waste daily, converting recovered FOG into biofuel feedstock and treating water at just one-fourth the previous cost.
- We’ve also launched AI-driven workflow tools, custom vacuum and service trucks, predictive routing software, and waste stream recovery systems that turn recovered materials into compost ingredients and soil products such as potting mix and turf blends.
Building a Circular Future
In 2023, we took another step toward a circular economy with the installation of a food waste depackager, enabling us to separate expired or defective food products from packaging for composting — diverting massive volumes from landfills.
We also work with more than 50 county recycling centers to collect used cooking oil from residents, preventing improper disposal and saving homeowners and municipalities millions in plumbing and infrastructure costs.
Our impact extends beyond operations. We sponsor a biodiesel education program at Blythewood High School, helping students gain hands-on experience in sustainable fuel production while powering their school’s fleet — inspiring the next generation of innovators.
Thriving Through Ingenuity
While many industry peers have closed due to reduced government subsidies, Green Energy Biofuel continues to thrive through innovation, strategic acquisitions, and operational efficiency. What began as a one-person operation in a garage has grown into a 40+ person team, four facilities across GA, SC, NC, and TN, and over 2,000 active accounts. We’ve quadrupled production volume, surpassed $20 million in revenue, and continue expanding our reach across North America.
Rethinking Sustainability
This award is more than recognition — it’s a reminder of what’s possible when innovation and sustainability go hand in hand. From repurposing waste to powering communities, Green Energy Biofuel remains committed to Rethinking Sustainability — one recycled gallon at a time.
👉 Read the full press release here: South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance Awards Green Energy Biofuel Innovator of the Year
