Biogenic oil co-processing

OMV uses new technologies to increase the quality and stability of fuels with biogenic components through what is known as Co-Processing. Co-Processing involves introducing biogenic feedstock during the fuel refining process instead of the conventional method of blending biogenic components into fuel after production. This concept allows OMV’s existing refineries to produce transportation fuels from various types of biogenic feedstock, such as domestic rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, used cooking oil, or algae oil. The high degree of integration within OMV refineries reduces greenhouse gas emissions from Co-Processing by up to 85% compared with the EU standard for similar finishing steps for biofuels.

Co-Processing

Co-Processing (graphic)

In 2016, OMV successfully conducted the first field trial of Co-Processing using rapeseed oil and obtained certification in accordance with the REDcert standard, an EU-recognized system for the certification of sustainable biomass. OMV continues to implement Co-Processing technology, and by 2025, the Company aims to co-process approximately 200,000 t of sustainable feedstock per year, depending on future legislation.

Unlike conventional biofuels, advanced fuels do not compete with food production. OMV also researches various advanced fuel technologies that are mostly in a research and development stage with the aim of future scale-up.

Sustainability Strategy 2025 target

Raise the share of sustainable feedstock co-processed in the refineries to ~200,000 t per year by 2025

Status 2019

  • Process Design Package finalized for Schwechat refinery
  • Process studies finalized for Petrobrazi refinery

Action plan to achieve the target

SDG 8 – decent work and economic growth (icon) SDG 9 – industry, innovation and infrastructure (icon) SDG 12 – responsible consumption and production (icon) SDG 13 – climate action (icon)
  • For purposes of gaining further experience and rolling out Co-Processing at OMV Petrom, additional test runs are planned at the Petrobrazi refinery in Romania in 2020 (3,000 t of biogenic feedstock), to be accompanied by final product quality assurance tests in the laboratory.