INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY

HIGHLIGHTS

'Along with Petroleum' is a research and technological development programme that focuses on the conversion of solar energy and the production of biofuels.
Projects are developed from the research centres of Novara and San Donato Milanese, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The "Along with Petroleum" R&D Programme

The "Along with Petroleum" R&D Programme - In 2007, Eni launched Along with Petroleum, a research and technological development programme, focused on the conversion of solar energy and the production of biofuels from non-food biomass.

Research activities are conducted mainly at the Research Center for Non Conventional Energy - Istituto Eni Donegani in Novara and at the Research Center for Oil & Gas in San Donato Milanese, under the supervision of the Strategies and Development Department and with the support of external partners, including an alliance with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Scheme
Solar Energy
Biomass

Along with Petroleum Program - Scheme

The main topics of research on solar energy are:

development of photovoltaic cells based on organic materials and/or polymer to reduce the cost of producing electricity from solar, overcoming the limitations of current technologies, based on silicon;
synthesis of photoactive materials that can increase the conversion efficiency of photovoltaic devices; this project received the "Oscar Masi prize for industrial innovation" by AIRI (Italian Association for Industrial Innovation)
photo-production of hydrogen by dissociation of water through solar energy;
development of power generation hybrid systems (with possible co-production of desalinated water) based on concentrated solar power technology and combined cycles, including the enhancement of remote reserves of natural gas.

The main topics of research on the production and use of biomass energy are:

Biomass to Liquids (BTL): conversion of non-edible biomass into biofuels via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (second-generation biofuels);
use of micro-organisms (yeast, fungi, bacteria and microalgae) dedicated to the production of biofuels (third generation biofuels), also from biomass such as the organic component of solid waste ;
identification of plants to use only for energy (not for food) with high productivity, in order to significantly reduce the production cost of biofuels and the farming areas.