Eni-FCA sign MOU for projects to reduce CO2 emissions
Rome - Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi and FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne signed a Memorandum of Understanding at Palazzo Chigi in Rome, in the presence of Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, to jointly develop research projects and technological applications aimed at reducing CO2 emissions from road transport. The two companies, renewing their strategic commitment to a low-carbon future and in line with Italy's National Energy Strategy, are pooling their expertise, experience and technological know-how with the aim of achieving highly significant reductions in the level of CO2 emissions from this sector. To this end, Eni and FCA have identified the following areas of collaboration. The development of technology and materials for the absorption of natural gas, Adsorbed Natural Gas, to improve existing technologies linked to compressed natural gas in the automotive sector. This collaboration will focus on the study of new adsorbent technologies and materials that will allow compressed gas to be transported at much lower pressure, thereby reducing the weight of tanks and increasing the driving range of the vehicle. The development of new technologies for the utilization of gas in transport that enable the use not only of compressed and liquefied natural gas but also of methanol, an alcohol derived from gas which combined with other fuels results in emission reductions. To this end, Eni has developed a new type of gasoline with an alternative fuel content of 20% (15% methanol and 5% bioethanol). This new fuel produces lower CO2 and other gas emissions, and is currently undergoing joint testing with FCA. It will be used by five Fiat 500 vehicles from the Enjoy fleet, Eni?s car sharing service also created in partnership with FCA, in a long haul road test. The use of this new gasoline can reduce CO2 emissions by over 4% (2% during the combustion stage and a further 2.3% from the fuel production cycle and due to the biomass component). In order to widen the scope of car sharing and to highlight the versatility and flexibility of compressed gas, from the beginning of 2018, the Enjoy fleet will also include Fiat Doblò vans from the Enjoy Cargo service. This will be the world?s first example of vehicle sharing for goods transportation without the need for vehicle pick-up and return points. 20% of the Fiat Doblò fleet will be powered by methane. The development, including in collaboration with MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), of technologies and devices for the capture and temporary storage on board the vehicles of part of the CO2 produced by internal combustion engines. Given that transport accounts for around 23% of global CO2 emissions, and that light vehicles alone account for about 10%, this technological solution would lead to a significant reduction in CO2 emissions from the transport sector. In order to further reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions, the parties also reaffirmed their shared interest in assessing new fuel formulations for use in existing vehicles, without the need for substantial mechanical changes. These include, among other things, diesel formulations with a higher proportion of hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO) compared to current levels, gasoline with a higher alcohol content, including from renewable sources and/or waste, and the use of new friction reducer additives. Finally, the two companies have agreed to forge new partnerships with Italian and international universities with the aim of creating and training new professional profiles for the future. Eni's Chief Executive Officer Claudio Descalzi commented: "Today we have signed an agreement between two great companies in Italy that share a commitment to a low carbon future. Bringing our technological know-how and research skills together with FCA?s, with the support of the Italian Prime Minister, is an important initiative in this direction. It is a strategic path for Eni and signifies our commitments in a number of areas. In the area of mobility, Eni has already taken several important steps, for example in developing innovative, low-emission green fuels. This is part of an integrated strategy that ranges from the reduction of CO2 emissions in all our activities to the promotion of natural gas as a clean fossil fuel to serve as a bridge in the transition to renewables, and from the testing of green and alternative fuels to renewable energy research. We will push our innovative projects with FCA forward, aiming to make a significant contribution in terms of emissions reduction in the short term, as well as ambitious, though realistic, future objectives." FCA's Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne commented: "Our collaboration with Eni marks a big step forward. I am delighted that we can also count on the support of the Italian government in a phase that sees the two most important companies in Italy combining their efforts and skills for an incisive and permanent reduction of emissions. This is a shared goal that reflects a sense of responsibility and a commitment to the world we want to leave to future generations."