Eni has built its first biorefinery in Porto Marghera,
Venice by converting old plants thanks to technologies developed by its research centres.
Text by Eni S. p. A.
Eni’ s first biorefinery
The biorefinery in Venice produces quality biofuel( HVO- Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) from raw biogenic materials. At the time of its opening in 2014, it was the world’ s first example of fully converting a traditional refinery into a biorefinery. The process is based on its proprietary Ecofining TM technology. The biorefinery is mainly( about 85 %) fuelled by waste raw materials, such as waste cooking oil, animal fats and residues from the agro-food industry for the production of biofuels, HVO diesel, bio-LPG, biojet and bio-naphtha for the chemical chain. In Venice, a plant for the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel( SAF) is awaiting the necessary permits. The processed bio-components, after distillation, will produce biojet, a fuel that can be blended with conventional products.
A benchmark for plastic recycling
The transformation of production activities in Porto Marghera also involves Versalis, Eni’ s chemical company, through new industrial initiatives based on the circular economy model. The flagship project foresees the creation of a hub for the advanced mechanical recycling of post-consumer plastics. During the initial phase, the aim is to obtain packaging and building products completely from
BIOREFINING
Eni expands Venice biorefinery
expanded and compacted polystyrene waste, selected from industry and trade. Then, a plant will be built for the advanced mechanical recycling of sorted plastic waste, obtained from separate waste collection, particularly polystyrene and high-density polyethylene. In addition, the first plant in Italy will be built for the production of isopropyl alcohol, an ingredient in disinfectants, detergents and many other products that is currently imported in its entirety. In parallel, Eni is investing in strengthening the logistics hub to further increase its flexibility.
Hydrogen production
The element is mainly used as feedstock in the biorefinery in Venice to produce HVO biofuels, i. e. the hydrotreated vegetable oils ideal for sustainable mobility. With Enilive in June 2022 we opened our first service station for the supply of hydrogen for mobility, in urban area and open to the public. Eni has also successfully participated in three PNRR calls to build hydrogen stations in three cities, of which one is Venice. The project, which was awarded PNRR funding for hydrogen experimentation for road transport is currently being planned. With Edison and Ansaldo Energia, Eni is experimenting with the production of hydrogen to be used as a substitute for methane at the new Edison power station in Marghera.