Eni makes biofuels from seaweeds

SICILY, Italy: At a pioneering plant in Sicily whose experimental phase is due to conclude next year, Italian energy giant Eni is using carbon dioxide and solar energy to grow microalgae to make a new bio-oil used in the production of green diesel.

At the experimental carbon dioxide biofixation plant in the city of Ragusa, Eni is using sunlight and carbon dioxide (C02) produced by its partner EniMed’s oil and gas wells to make a seaweed flour from which the new bio-oil is extracted that will replace palm oil as the fuel in Eni’s bio-refineries.