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Enilive’s HVO diesel biofuel successfully tested for maritime transport

Eni and MSC Cruises have successfully tested Enilive’s HVO diesel as a practical solution for reducing emissions from maritime transport. The trial powered an MSC Opera engine with pure HVO for approximately 2,000 hours, delivering comparable performance to traditional marine fuels while reducing NOx emissions by 16% and GHG emissions by around 80%.

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Eni’s Enilive Gela plant produces HVO diesel and SAF from renewable feedstocks Credit: Eni

One engine of MSC Opera was powered with pure HVO during the trial.

0 hours

NOx emissions

0 % lower

Compared with traditional marine fuel, linked to the use of 100% biogenic feedstocks in HVO production.

0 % GHG emissions
In this case study:

Eni, in collaboration with MSC Cruises, successfully completed a test of the use of Enilive’s HVO (Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil) diesel. The initiative highlights the value of HVO as a strategic energy carrier to support the decarbonisation of maritime transport, enabling shipowners to cut emission-related costs and to meet the targets set by FuelEU Maritime regulation.

Testing HVO at sea

The trial was jointly carried out by Eni and MSC Cruises: during the tests, one of the engines of the cruise ship MSC Opera was powered for approximately 2,000 hours with pure HVO, while performance and emissions data were recorded.

HVO delivers without engine upgrades

This test demonstrated that HVO is an immediately applicable solution even for marine engines and without the need for technological upgrades, while ensuring performance in line with traditional marine fossil fuels.

Lower emissions, without compromising performance

The test also recorded lower emissions of both NOx (-16%) and particulate, as well as a significant reduction in GHG emissions inherent to the origin of the HVO product of around -80% compared to the use of traditional fuel; the reduction is due to the usage of 100% biogenic feedstocks in the HVO production process.

Eni’s Enilive Gela plant produces HVO diesel and SAF from renewable feedstocks Credit: Eni

The trial with MSC has demonstrated how Enilive’s HVO diesel biofuel can contribute immediately to the decarbonization of maritime transport. It can be used in its pure form in marine engines validated for its use, allowing a reduction in climate-altering emissions – calculated along the entire supply chain – of between 65% and 90% compared to traditional marine fossil fuels.

Stefano Ballista, CEO Enilive

Eni is an integrated energy company headquartered in Italy, with operations in more than 60 countries. Through its subsidiary Enilive, Eni is a leading European producer of biofuels and a major operator in mobility services.

Headquarters: Rome, Italy

Founded: 1953

URL: eni.com

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