The goal is the zero-emission refinery. The starting point is a project that provides for the capture and storage of CO2 underground and an agreement between two large groups: Saras and Air Liquide. At the Saras refinery in Sarroch, about twenty kilometers from Cagliari, we are looking at decarbonisation and new solutions to proceed with the abatement of emissions.
The agreement
Precisely with this in mind, the oil company (founded by Angelo Moratti in 1962 and considered one of the main European operators in the energy and oil refining sector) has signed with Air Liquid (present in 78 countries with approximately 64,500 employees, 3.8 million customers and patients and operating in the field of gases, technologies and services for Industry and Health,) a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at “exploring opportunities to reduce the footprint of carbon from the Sarroch refinery ». Starting from the agreement, the two companies will assess the economic and technical feasibility for the capture and storage of CO2 emissions related to the Sarroch refinery processes. “Supporting the decarbonisation of the industry is one of the strategic pillars of the Air Liquide Group, which is committed to addressing the urgency of climate change and the challenge of the energy transition, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050”.
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The two phases of the memorandum
The Memorandum provides, in a first phase, “a study aimed at considering various carbon capture solutions, including the solution conceived and patented by Air Liquide CryocapTM, and their applicability”. In a second phase, the two partners plan “to carry out a more in-depth feasibility study that will also include CO2 transport and storage solutions”. Solutions that, according to experts, would allow a “reduction of the carbon footprint of the refinery and of the supply of electricity to the surrounding community”. The program also benefits from the presence, at the Sardinian industrial site of an Igcc (Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle) plant, an integrated combined cycle plant that uses heavy products from the refinery to produce electricity destined to supply industries and homes in Sardinia.
The horizon of the transition
For Dario Scaffardi, CEO of Saras (the company has 1,690 employees and has revenues of approximately € 5.3 billion at 31 December 2020), this is an “important step in Saras’ commitment to face the challenge of transition energy guaranteeing the sustainability of our production site in the medium to long term “.
An avant-garde technology
«The capture and storage of CO2 is a cutting-edge technology with significant potential and is recognized as a fundamental technology for achieving the goal of climate neutrality – adds the CEO -. Air Liquide has been one of Saras’ main suppliers for decades. We are pleased and proud to develop this study with a partner of excellence, with extensive and recognized experience, and who has already developed important similar projects, in the certainty that this collaboration will help define solutions to effectively address the challenges for the sustainable development of our Group”.