The Croatian oil and gas company INA has awarded Axens (Rueil Malmaison, France; www.axens.net) a license agreement to supply Futurol cellulosic ethanol technology and contract for basic engineering design of an advanced bioethanol production plant in Sisak, Croatia.
Supplying INA with its innovative and sustainable Futurol™ technology for the advanced bioethanol production project marks a major step for Axens as a key player in biofuels and bio-based chemicals production processes. Axens will be involved in a full-scale commercial cellulosic bioethanol production plant, a first of its kind.
“Axens is very excited to work with INA and be part of this advanced bioethanol production project. Based on Futurol technology, it represents a significant strategic milestone for INA as meeting environmental European regulations – the Renewable Energy Directive RED II”, said Frédéric Balligand, Renewables Business Group Director, Axens.
“This project is in line with the company’s development guidelines and INA Downstream 2023 New course program. Moreover, it fits into the EU Green Deal guidelines and empowers the transformation of the industry in sustainable direction by having advanced biofuel with negative CO2 footprint as a final project target. Choosing the technology and signing the contract for basic engineering design for the advanced bioethanol plant is an important step towards the final investment decision”, said Stjepan Nikolić, Operating Director of Refining and Marketing, INA.
Futurol technology would enable INA to produce 55,000 tons, equivalent to 70 million liters, of advanced ethanol in synergy with green energy production, based on lignocellulosic feedstock such as agricultural residues and energy crop Miscanthus. As per the Renewable Energy Directive II (REDII), the second-generation ethanol allows more than 85% reduction of greenhouse gas emission as compared to the fossil reference.