Enilive has started the production of SAF , a sustainable aviation fuel , at its biorefinery located in Gela, Sicily. With an annual production capacity of 400,000 tonnes, this plant can meet about a third of the European demand forecast for 2025, complying with the new regulations of the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation.
European regulation requires fuel suppliers to include an increasing proportion of SAF in airline supplies, starting with 2% in 2025 and reaching 70% by 2050. In this context, the Gela plant represents a key step towards reducing carbon emissions in aviation and moving towards the energy transition.
Innovation and technology for SAF production
Enilive uses residual raw materials such as used cooking oils , animal fats and plant by-products in its SAF production process. In addition, the plant features advanced technologies, including improvements to the isomerization unit and tank farm, allowing for diversification of the processed biomass sources.
The company plans to increase its SAF production capacity to 1 million tonnes per year by 2026 and reach 5 million tonnes per year in biorefining by 2030. New plants in Italy, Malaysia and South Korea will join this global effort to lead the production of sustainable fuels.
Key airline alliances
Since 2022, Enilive has signed agreements with major airlines to supply SAF produced from synergies between their biorefineries. This underlines the company’s commitment to cleaner and more sustainable aviation , positioning itself as a key player in the biofuels market.
SAF production at the Gela plant marks an achievement in the transition towards renewable fuels , contributing to European and global sustainability goals.
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Source and photos: Eni
