Riccardo Piunti, president of CONOU, outlines to Rinnovabili how HVO produced from waste oils delivers both economic and environmental advantages.
Italy stands out in numerous industries, and the collection and regeneration of used lubricating oils is among its strongest performers. The country has reached an outstanding regeneration and circularity rate of 98 percent.
A key driver behind this achievement is CONOU, the National Consortium for Used Mineral Oils, which for more than four decades has set the benchmark not only domestically but across Europe. By bringing together a broad network of companies, the consortium has fostered awareness and participation around a circular best practice model. As often happens, progress in one area creates momentum for further innovation.
To advance an even more circular and lower-impact operational framework, CONOU recently entered into a memorandum of understanding with UNEM, the Union for Energy and Mobility. The agreement promotes the use of HVO biodiesel, Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil derived from waste oils, across the consortium’s fleet of 678 vehicles that collect used oil from over 103,000 sites nationwide.
Rinnovabili visited CONOU’s headquarters to meet its president, Riccardo Piunti, and explore how this reduced-emission biofuel represents a credible alternative to conventional diesel.
President Piunti, let’s start with the basics. What is HVO biodiesel, and how is it produced?
Biofuels derived from vegetable oils or used cooking oils have been around for a long time. Years ago, while working at Eni, biodiesel was widely used due to tax incentives. However, in the 1990s, low-blend biodiesel mixed with conventional diesel caused several issues, including the formation of algae and mold in tanks due to its instability.
Later, Eni saw an opportunity to repurpose decommissioned refineries to produce biofuels from waste oils. The HVO we are discussing today is made from used frying oil and other vegetable oil waste but undergoes an advanced refining process that allows it to be used at 100% purity without technical issues. To achieve this, specific plants were built to chemically refine the raw material, making it fully compatible with diesel engines.
Hydrogenation, using hydrogen, is the key process for purifying biofuel. How does this process work?
The process requires a catalyst, the right temperature, and sufficient hydrogen pressure. Hydrogen plays a critical role in refining because it removes contaminants, ensuring a stable and clean final product. Although the process consumes energy, the overall balance remains positive since it produces high-quality diesel from waste materials.
