Repsol, Bunge to boost development of hydrotreated biofuels in Europe with intermediate crops

Repsol and Bunge announced April 24 a major milestone in the development of renewable fuels in Europe—the incorporation of intermediate novel crops in the production of renewable fuels.

Specifically, camelina and safflower will be processed into low carbon-intensity oils and used as feedstock to produce hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), a fully compatible drop-in replacement for conventional diesel fuel, or sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for the decarbonization of air travel.

This marks a significant step forward in feedstock innovation to produce renewable fuels in Europe.

Intermediate novel crops expand the available pool of low carbon-intensity feedstocks to produce renewable fuel, with emission reductions of up to 90 percent compared to conventional diesel.

Repsol will utilize advanced technology in its industrial assets to convert these oils into renewable fuel, creating a new pathway for the development of renewable fuels in Spain.

The companies recently closed their previously announced transaction and are committed to ongoing research and development to explore further low-carbon feedstock opportunities to boost the supply of advanced renewable fuels, including sourcing novel seeds from Spanish farmers.

“We are committed to be the best-in-class partner to provide innovative solutions and support farmers’ efforts in low-carbon agriculture,” said Julio Garros, the co-president of Bunge’s agribusiness. “Through industry collaborations, we are adding new oil sources to our global supply chains and investing in processing plants with greater ability to handle and process these crops, expanding our offerings of cost-effective, sustainable feedstocks to customers worldwide. We are pleased to partner with Repsol to create clear and scalable paths to support the decarbonization of the industry.”

Juan Abascal, Repsol’s executive managing director of industrial transformation and circular economy, added, “Renewable fuels are a fundamental pillar for Repsol on our road to becoming net-zero emissions by 2050, and intermediate crops must play a key role in guaranteeing the supply of the low-carbon feedstocks necessary to produce these fuels. Our strategic alliance with Bunge, a world leader in the vegetable-oils production sector, strengthens our capacity to achieve our shared vision of decarbonizing industry and mobility in the most efficient way.”

Leveraging its extensive network of farmer relationships and expertise in oilseed processing, Bunge said it is developing value-chain partnerships to promote the adoption of intermediate novel crops in many regions of the world and is offering a progressive portfolio of readily available, high-performing options.

These oil-rich novel crops, which are designed to be planted on fallow lands, offer distinct advantages and provide farmers a new income opportunity through sustainable crop rotations while improving soil health and boosting biodiversity.

Moreover, these crops are additive to the existing production systems for food, feed and fuel.