Croatia’s INA d.d. mentioned its Rijeka refinery within the nation has produced sustainable aviation gas (SAF) for the primary time.
As a part of its efforts to scale back its carbon footprint and align with European renewable power laws, the oil firm has efficiently accomplished a pilot venture to course of biogenic feedstock on the hydrocracking unit of the refinery, in keeping with a information launch.
Along with SAF, a major quantity of renewable diesel, or hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), was additionally produced, the corporate mentioned.
INA mentioned the venture was applied in collaboration with the unit’s licensor, Chevron Lummus World (CLG), aiming to check the co-processing of 5 p.c palm oil mill effluent, which is a by-product of palm oil manufacturing, with fossil feedstocks.
The pilot venture was executed in Might, throughout which 1,000 metric tons of biogenic feedstock had been processed. Your entire course of was licensed by the impartial auditor Bureau Veritas d.o.o., according to the Worldwide Sustainability and Carbon Certification normal for sustainable biofuels, in keeping with the discharge.
The preparation of the pilot venture took eight months “because of the complexity of processing a brand new sort of feedstock and its particular bodily and chemical properties,” INA mentioned. The venture concerned a spread of actions, from procuring specialised filters and adapting laboratory strategies to rising the capacities of the hydrocracking and vacuum distillation models and guaranteeing managed dealing with of the biogenic feedstock underneath present working circumstances. the corporate acknowledged.
Through the take a look at run, greater than 400 samples had been collected for detailed evaluation performed at INA’s central testing laboratory, whereas radiocarbon relationship evaluation was finished on the biogenic content material by accredited exterior laboratories Ruđer Bošković Institute in Zagreb and Isotoptech Zrt. in Debrecen, in keeping with the discharge.
“Processing biogenic feedstock inside present infrastructure is likely one of the best methods to decarbonize refinery operations and enhance the share of renewables within the transport sector. Due to the dedication of our inside staff and the collaboration with companions from MOL Group and CLG, we now have efficiently created the required preconditions to fulfill the longer term wants of the market and our clients,” Ivica Jerbić, INA Director of Growth, mentioned.
“This pilot venture has created the muse for additional actions and the introduction of steady biogenic feedstock processing on the Rijeka Refinery within the close to future. With this venture, INA continues to innovate and effectively adapt to the necessities of the brand new power period,” Goran Pleše, INA Working Director of Refining and Advertising, mentioned.
INA mentioned it plans to finish all preparatory actions and be prepared to make sure steady provide of SAF to the market by 2029, according to the European Union’s (EU) Renewable Vitality Directive. Via the directive, the EU set binding targets to scale back greenhouse fuel emissions and enhance the share of renewable power sources in transport. By 2030, EU member states are required to make sure an acceptable share of renewables within the transport sector, with a selected give attention to superior biofuels and SAF, which is able to play a key function in decarbonizing the aviation trade, in keeping with the discharge.
To contact the writer, e-mail rocky.teodoro@rigzone.com
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