According to the new directive regarding biofuels, Eni is working to accelerate the transition towards alternative feedstock, thus eliminating first generation vegetable oil and replacing it with more sustainable second and third generation feedstocks. Indeed, no more palm oil will be processed in Eni’s Biorefineries by 2023. As R&D we have been working with our industrial system and Eni supply and Trading functions to diversify the mix of biofeedstocks processed for the production of biofuels, as part of Eni's strategy to achieve the company's "carbon neutrality" objectives.
In accordance with Eni's commitment to play a key role in sustainability and innovation, R&D has worked to identify new organic waste matrices and dedicated crops to collaborate to ensure security of supply and maximise energy and environmental results.
Since the start of the Venice biorefinery in 2014, the continuous work between Research, industrial function and procurement has allowed us to progressively vary the mix of biocharges used to allow the total elimination of palm oil from 2023. Over the years we have analyzed hundreds of alternative raw materials, workable thanks to the great flexibility of the Ecofining™ process, the core of bio refining cycle.
We have developed one of the world's first databases of biofeedstocks alternative to palm oil, continuously being implemented. Currently there are about 400 of them, coming from different sources and countries: inedible oils, industrial processing waste, used cooking oils, animal fats, products developed in our R&D laboratories.
The parameters with which we analyze them are more than 60 and allow us to appropriately characterize the raw materials for the purpose of their processing, anticipating any critical issues, as e.g. possible high content in contaminants so that dedicated treating processes can be studied and put in place.
For the creation of value for all stakeholders, the relationship with the territory is also important for Eni, which is the recipient of the goods and services and which is called upon to actively participate in the various phases of the production process, for example with the transfer of used cooking oils to the dedicated collection points.
Among other things, Eni also supports the development of innovative agricultural supply chains for the production of agro-feedstocks, to cultivate inedible oilseeds and not in competition with food, in areas subject to natural and anthropogenic degradation, valorizing marginal lands.
