Biofuels, a contribution to the transport transition

Biofuels are fuels that make an important contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector.

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 EcofiningTM technology, developed with Honeywell-UOP, used in the biorefineries of  Venice Porto Marghera and Gela refineries. This is how we obtain the hydrogenated biofuel HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), which is distributed through the Enilive station network in the form of two premium fuels: HVOlution (HVO 100%) and Eni Diesel+ (HVO 15%).

 

We expect to start and complete the transformation of the Livorno plant into a bio-refinery by 2026. We are also evaluating and developing projects for new bio-refineries in Malaysia and South Korea. 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.

The raw materials from which we can make biofuels

Thanks to the solutions developed in our research centres, we are technically capable of obtaining biofuels from a wide range of biogenic raw materials.

Bio-oils obtained from marginal land cultivation (cotton, castor, camelina, safflower)
Agroforestry waste (e.g. croton, hevea)
Waste from the agri-food industry (e.g. inedible animal fat)
Used cooking oil (UCO) and repurpose used cooking oil (RUCO)
Organic fraction of municipal solid waste

Towards a new energy

Visit the agri-feedstock projects that contribute to the increasingly sustainable supply of our biorefineries.

Bioethanol from forest biomass

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.

Ecofining™️: the technology that drives decarbonisation

With our proprietary solution we use raw biogenic materials to produce high quality biofuels.

Workers over the Gela plant at sunset

Bioenergy supports our path to Net Zero

Biomass cultivation and the production of biofuels and biomethane increase production capacity in bioenergy for sustainability.



Back to top
Back to top