Biofuels, a contribution to the transport transition

Biofuels are fuels derived from the processing of biogenic raw materials, such as oils extracted from oilseeds, organic waste such as cooking oils and animal fats, and residues from the agri-food industry. This processing is carried out using the proprietary Ecofining^TM technology, developed with Honeywell-UOP, used in the biorefineries of  Venice Porto Marghera and Gela refineries.

The conversion of the Livorno plant into a biorefinery and new biorefineries in Malaysia and South Korea are under study and development. We are also present in the United States with the St. Bernard Renewables biorefinery (Louisiana)  in partnership with PBF Energy. In parallel, we are developing increasingly sustainable supply for our biorefineries through the production of agri feedstock from crops grown on abandoned, degraded land that is not in competition with the food supply chain.

Another existing process when it comes to producing biofuels is Proesa^®, a proprietary technology that obtains sustainable bioethanol from woody and cellulose-based waste from forestry processing, developed by Versalis and used at the Crescentino plant.  Using special enzymes, lignocellulosic biomass is first converted into second-generation sugars and, through a fermentation process, transformed into advanced ethanol, which is used to formulate petrol with a renewable component. In addition to bioethanol, the process is capable of producing chemical intermediates for other processes, e.g. for the production of disinfectants from the Invix^® line.