Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) and Eni SpA have signed a collaboration agreement to test newer processes to produce biofuels for high-performance deployment.
Executed on the sidelines of the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix, the “feasibility agreement” targets potential gasolines derived from renewable raw materials that can be used in motorsports and subsequently in commercial products, Eni said in an online statement Monday.
The partners will “evaluate the development of innovative high-performance bio-gasoline starting from the established Ecofining™ technology process, through which Eni has been producing HVO [hydrotreated vegetable oil] biofuels from renewable raw materials since 2014”, Eni said.
“The aim of the agreement is to assess the technical, market and sustainability profiles, as well as the performance levels of new bio-gasolines”.
“On one side, Eni will contribute its consolidated experience in sustainable energy solutions and in the production, at Enilive biorefineries, of commercially available biofuels from renewable feedstocks – including HVO diesel and SAF-biojet – as well as the development of innovative bio-gasoline”, Eni said. Enilive is Eni’s biorefining and smart mobility business.
“Meanwhile, Petronas will contribute its proven expertise in fuel technology, from fossil-based fuels to high-performance sustainable fuels for combustion engines, together with its experience in sustainable energy solutions and advanced product development”.
While Italy’s Eni and Malaysia’s Petronas, both state-controlled energy majors, are partners with F1 teams Alpine and Mercedes respectively, only Petronas is an active race car fuel supplier.
The sport’s governing body, FIA, has switched to “advanced sustainable fuels” starting in the 2026 season. The switch requires power units in F1 cars to use fuels certified to have been 100 percent produced from “a renewable feedstock of non-biological origin (for example, a RFNBO), municipal waste or non-food biomass”, as stated in the new regulations published August 5, 2026 but already approved by FIA’s World Motor Sport Council four years ago.
F1 cars continue to use internal combustion engines as the new fuels are meant to replace fossil fuels without current engines having to be modified, as confirmed by F1 in clarifications published January 30, 2026.
Petronas fuels Mercedes-AMG power units, deployed not only by the namesake team but also by rivals McLaren under an agreement announced November 24, 2023; Williams under an agreement announced January 8, 2024; and more recently Eni-sponsored Alpine.
Last year Eni announced its return to F1, as Renault-owned Alpine’s “official energy and fuel partner” under an unspecified multi-year agreement.
“The team will collaborate with Eni to activate its Enilive brand at select races throughout the 24-race season”, Eni said February 13, 2025.
Earlier, however, Alpine announced November 14, 2024 an agreement with Mercedes to deploy the Petronas team’s power units from 2026 to at least 2030.
Alpine’s switch to Mercedes power units follows the former’s decision to end power unit production in 2025.
Nonetheless, Eni will continue to fuel Alpine not through race cars but through the team’s logistics vehicles.
“Starting from this season, HVOlution will be used by vehicles transporting BWT Alpine Formula One Team’s cars and infrastructure in the main European countries thanks to a network of over 1,700 Enilive service stations where the product is available”, Eni and Alpine said in a joint statement September 1, 2026, referring to Eni’s biodiesel formulation.
“HVOlution is a pure HVO diesel biofuel, produced at the Enilive’s biorefineries in Venice and Gela, mainly from waste and residues, such as used cooking oils and animal fats”, Eni said. “HVOlution is a drop-in fuel, which does not require modifications to engines or distribution infrastructure, and is therefore an immediately available solution that can contribute to the decarbonization of road transport”.
The statement recalled that their 2025 agreement “includes a collaboration on the future development of biofuel for top-level motorsports”.
Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore said, “We look forward to continuing to strengthen our relationship always further both on and off track”.
source: rigzone.com