MET Development (MAIRE), Eni, and Iren Ambiente (Iren) have started the permitting process for a circular methanol and hydrogen production plant at Eni’s refinery in Sannazzaro de' Burgondi (Pavia), Italy.
The plant will be developed by MAIRE together with Italian energy producer, Eni, and Italian utility, Iren, leveraging NEXTCHEM’s (MAIRE’s technology business unit) proprietary NX CircularTM technology, which is completing engineering activities in preparation of the execution phase.
This technology allows the plant to convert waste by generating syngas, which is subsequently used to produce high quality sustainable fuels and chemicals. Once completed, the plant will be able to convert approximately 200 000 tpy of non-recyclable waste (which will be supplied by Iren’s waste management unit) into syngas.
The syngas will, in turn, be converted to produce up to 110 000 tpy of circular methanol, an alternative for the decarbonisation of the maritime sector. It will also produce up to 1500 tpy of circular hydrogen, which could be used in refinery processes, reducing CO2 emissions compared to fossil-generated hydrogen, or, alternatively, for sustainable mobility in road and rail transport.
Furthermore, the plant will be able to recover 33 000 tpy of inert granulate, which can be used for the cement industry, contributing to the decarbonisation of this sector as well. The circular methanol produced meets the criteria of the EU Renewable Energy Directive for Recycled Carbon Fuels (RCF) and is an effective solution for reducing carbon emissions.
The plant will exploit the infrastructure and services already available at the refinery, thus optimising costs and enhancing the technical expertise at Sannazzaro site.
Fabio Fritelli, NEXTCHEM's Managing Director, commented: “This project is a unique opportunity to combine environmental sustainability and economic growth. Italian ports will be among the first in the world to be able to benefit from the new environmentally friendly fuel required by international regulations. NEXTCHEM's NX CircularTM technology enables us to reduce environmental impact with a solution that supports and strengthens our customers' path towards energy transition.”