- The EIB and Eni signed a €500 million, 15-year finance contract for the Livorno biorefinery conversion.
- The project includes a 500,000-tonne/year Ecofining™ plant to produce hydrogenated biofuels.
- The Livorno site will produce HVO diesel, HVO naphtha, and bio-LPG from plant-based waste.
- The biorefinery may adapt to produce sustainable aviation fuel in the future.
Project Overview
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Eni have signed a €500 million, 15-year finance contract to convert Eni's Livorno refinery in Tuscany into a biorefinery. This project will be Eni's third biorefinery in Italy, following those in Venice and Gela.
Technological Advancements
The conversion involves constructing new plants to produce hydrogenated biofuels, including a biogenic pre-treatment unit and a 500,000-tonne/year Ecofining™ plant. Eni's proprietary Ecofining™ technology will be used to produce HVO (hydrogenated vegetable oil) from renewable raw materials like used cooking oil and agrifood waste.
Environmental Impact
This initiative supports the European Union's decarbonization goals, particularly in the transport sector, and aligns with Eni's energy transition strategy. The Livorno biorefinery will produce HVO diesel, HVO naphtha, and bio-LPG, contributing to emission reduction targets under the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III).
Future Flexibility
The project includes the potential to modify the plant layout to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the future, enhancing its flexibility and alignment with EU environmental priorities. This adaptability broadens the project's potential impact on decarbonizing aviation.
Strategic Goals
The conversion is part of Enilive's strategy to reach over five million tonnes of biorefinery capacity by 2030. It also supports Italy's targets for pure biofuel production, which aims to increase from 300,000 tonnes per year in 2023 to one million tonnes by 2030.
