Todays Latest Updates: 18 March 2026

Biofuels: Italy. Eni announces a further important strategic investment in biorefining. In addition to the Priolo project, the final investment decision (FID) has also been approved for Eni’s plan to convert certain units of the Sannazzaro de’ Burgondi refinery (Pavia, Lombardy) into a biorefinery. The project involves the conversion of the Hydrocracker (HDC2) unit using Ecofining™ technology as well as the construction of a pre-treatment unit for waste and residues, which are the main feedstocks used by Enilive to produce HVO biofuels. The hydrogen required will be supplied by existing plants, while supporting infrastructure, including logistics and connections to airports in Lombardy, will be adapted for the new production setup. The new biorefinery in Sannazzaro de’ Burgondi will have the capacity to produce 550,000 tonnes/year of feedstock, with the flexibility to produce SAF-biojet and HVO diesel. Link 18/03/2026

Biofuels: Spain. Repsol expects to increase its renewable fuels production, reaching 1.5 million tons annually by 2028. Among the projects underway, Puertollano’s renewable fuels plant stands out, which will be operational in the second quarter of 2026. This facility will add 200,000 tons of production capacity per year to the existing one in Cartagena. Link 18/03/2026.

Biogas: United Kingdom. Thirty‑eight applications were lodged to build new or expand existing UK biomethane plants, representing one of the most substantial surges yet in new UK capacity of this renewable energy. Cadent, the UK’s largest gas distribution network, is now assessing these applications against its new ‘clustering’ approach. Cadent already has 47 biomethane sites connected to its networks, delivering four terawatt hours (TWh) of energy, which equates to the annual gas usage of 351,000 homes. The company is aiming to grow this to 20TWh by 2035 – the annual gas usage of 1.8 million homes. Link 18/03/2026.

CO2 Removal: Sweden. Saipem and Capsol Technologies ASA have entered into a non-exclusive cooperation agreement in the field of carbon capture. Specifically, the agreement focuses on the joint development of projects of mutual interest in the Hot Potassium Carbonate (HPC) segment, with the aim of capturing the opportunities offered by a growing market. Link 18/03/2026

Hydrogen: Australia. The lobby group, the Hydrogen Transport Forum (HTF), made up of BMW, Hyundai, and Honda, said recent geopolitical instability was bolstering the case for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. BMW, Hyundai, and Honda have each contributed towards hydrogen mobility infrastructures in Australia, it remains underdeveloped. The National Electric Vehicle strategy is yet to feature any mandates for the uptake of alternative fuel vehicles. Link 18/03/2026.

Marine fuels: The Netherlands. Evos Rotterdam is expanding its terminal in Europoort (21 tanks, approx. 260,000 m³) with five storage tanks (total 67,500 m³) for (bio)methanol and (bio)ethanol. An additional inland shipping berth is required to facilitate the extra transhipment. The expansion will contribute to Rotterdam’s position as a bunker port and industrial hub for methanol and ethanol. Link 18/03/2026.