Italian builder Azimut-Benetti Group and alternative fuels company Eni Sustainable Mobility signed an agreement for the supply and use of HVOlution, a biofuel derived from renewable raw materials.
“This agreement is a tangible step forward on the course we have charted out to reduce CO2 emissions,” group president Giovanna Vitelli said in a statement. “It is a result that enables us to extend our area of action in emissions reduction by involving the supply chain with a focus on decarbonization. At the present time, over half of Azimut’s fleet is made up of low-emission yachts, while Benetti has built the world’s largest hybrid yacht.”
HVOlution is made of 100% hydrogenated vegetable oil and is produced at Eni Sustainable Mobility refineries in Venice and Gela, Italy, from waste raw materials and vegetable residues or from oils generated from crops that do not compete with the food chain. The company says it can deliver emissions reductions of up to 90% compared to fossil fuels.
Azimut-Benetti this summer will start replacing fossil fuels with HVOlution for testing new yachts, sea trials and prototype handling. Owners also can take delivery of new Azimut models fueled with HVOlution.
“The first supply of biofuel to the recreational boating industry confirms that Eni Eni Sustainable Mobility can support maritime operators on the path to decarbonization,” Stefano Ballista, CEO of ENI Eni Sustainable Mobility, said in the stateme
