The process that uses biogenic raw materials to produce high-quality biofuels.
Processing biogenic raw materials into high-quality biofuels. This is the innovation at the basis of the Ecofining™ process, that we have developed with Honeywell UOP. Technology contributes to the decarbonisation goal, especially for the mobility sector. The process, given its great flexibility, allows to treat different types of feedstocks, animal fats and vegetable oils from waste from the agri-food industry and used cooking oils. The raw materials thus become advanced biofuels, such as HVO (Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil), marketed as HVOlution, the first biofuel of Eni Live (Eni Sustainable Mobility) produced with 100% of renewable raw materials (pursuant to Directive 2018/2001, also known as REDII).
Bionergy
Biofuels are already available and can be used immediately on almost all heavy vehicles and on some passenger vehicles that have been validated for XtL fuels: a solution to help reduce CO2 emissions from transport, a sector that is currently still more than 90 per cent dependent on fossil fuels and emitted almost 8 Gt CO2 in 2022, more than 20 per cent of global emissions from energy consumption (source IEA 2022). For them to be truly sustainable, however, it is important that they are produced from raw materials that do not compete with the food chain. Thanks to the proprietary EcofiningTM technology, advanced biofuels are produced, which, as defined by the Renewable Energy Directive REDII, are produced from raw materials that guarantee high CO2 emission savings as they are obtained from residues and/or waste from the agro-food chain.
Seeds for processing into biofuels.
Gela raw material processing plant
With Ecofining™ organic raw materials become biofuels.
Ecofining™ transforms biogenic raw materials into Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a high quality biofuel. It can process different types of raw materials into biofuels that exceed the limits of traditional fuels such as FAMEs (Fatty Acid Methyl Esters). The technology consists of two steps: hydrodeoxygenation, i.e. adding hydrogen and eliminating oxygen, and its subsequent isomerisation, which branches the hydrocarbon chains. The resulting HVO biofuel can be used in diesel engines, even when pure, and if subjected to distillation it can be used for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).
Ecofining™ is the technology that has enabled us to convert two of our conventional refineries into biorefineries: Venice-Porto Marghera (the first refinery in the world to be converted into a biorefinery in 2014) and Gela (where operations begun in 2019). In addition, three other biofuel biorefineries are being opened in Livorno, St. Bernard (USA), in the Pengerang Integrated Complex (Malaysia) and in South Korea.
Thanks to Ecofining™ technology, we were able to convert the two traditional refineries in Venice and Gela into biorefineries. By exploiting the flexibility of the process we are increasing the use of alternative fillers.
the organic raw material processing capacity of the Venice biorefinery
the organic raw material processing capacity of the Gela biorefinery
biofuels produced with Ecofining technology by 2025.
the organic raw material processing capacity of the Venice biorefinery
the organic raw material processing capacity of the Gela biorefinery
biofuels produced with Ecofining technology by 2025.
That’s right. They exist and are already being used: biofuels made from vegetable oils - including the ones you make French fries with.
20 October 2005
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