Classification society RINA and Italian energy company Eni have signed an agreement to jointly develop initiatives that can contribute to the energy transition and decarbonisation of their respective operations and particularly maritime transport, where it is thought that RINA and Eni can benefit from each other’s expertise.
Specifically, the agreement focuses on the use of HVO (Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil) biofuel produced by Eni in its Venice and Gela bio-refineries, as well as of other energy carriers such as ‘blue’ or ‘green’ hydrogen and ammonia from biogenic, renewable or waste raw materials not competing with the food chain, in shipping. The partnership encompasses the development of initiatives for the logistics and value chain of new energy carriers, and the adoption of certified methods for the ‘taxonometric’ calculation of the emissions benefits they will generate.
Eni and RINA will consider carrying out experiments and pilot projects related to the on-board capture of CO2 emissions in order to further contribute to pursuing the maritime sector’s sustainability goals.
Ugo Salerno, Chairman and CEO RINA, said: “Cooperation between companies is the way forward towards the common goal of decarbonising industry and transport. By sharing know-how and experience with Eni, we will contribute to developing innovative energy supply models. Our collaboration will begin by focusing on the maritime sector, a diversified and hard-to-abate industry that can draw on initiatives already adopted by other industrial segments to decarbonise operations”.
Giuseppe Ricci, Eni COO Energy Evolution, said: “Eni and RINA can make a significant contribution to the decarbonisation of maritime transport with their wealth of expertise and technological capabilities. Following a technology-agnostic approach, we are exploring multiple solutions. Thanks to this agreement, we will have the opportunity to study and develop them in the short, medium and long term, with the objective of making maritime transport more sustainable and meeting the needs of shipowners and logistics operators”.
