Italian biodiesel facility achieves key sustainability certifications ahead of restart

Greenswitch’s facilities include fully permitted plants suitable for biodiesel, epoxidized soybean oil and glycerin, with a capacity of up to 140,000 metric tons per year. (Photo: 80 Mile PLC)

80 Mile PLC, the exploration and development company with projects in Greenland, Finland and Italy, announced Aug. 25 that its 100 percent owned subsidiary Hydrogen Valley has secured two important sustainability certifications for the Greenswitch S.r.l. Ferrandina biodiesel facility in southern Italy.

Greenswitch has been awarded both the Italian National Sustainability Certification Scheme (INS) and the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification for the Ferrandina biodiesel facility in Italy.

These certifications formally confirm that products from the Ferrandina plant meet the sustainability, traceability and greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions-saving criteria required under Italian and EU renewable fuels regulations.

Commercial significance

The combination of INS and ISCC certification is particularly valuable in the Italian market.

It enables Greenswitch’s products to qualify for “double-counting” treatment under the Italian biodiesel obligation system and for the associated Certificati di Immissione in Consumo regime administered by the Gestore dei Servizi Energetici.

Biodiesel that achieves double-counting status and generates CICs typically attract a material premium relative to noncertified or single-counted product.

Based on recent market values for advanced CICs, qualifying product has commonly attracted a material premium, often in the order of 300 euros to 500 euros (USD$350 to USD$583) or more per metric ton depending on feedstock, GHG savings and prevailing certificate prices.

This significantly enhances the commercial attractiveness of Ferrandina’s output to fuel distributors and obligated parties and is expected to support stronger pricing and more favorable offtake discussions, the company said.

These certifications therefore represent both a regulatory de-risking milestone and a tangible improvement in the potential economics of the plant as Hydrogen Valley and Greenswitch continue restart and commissioning activities, with the objective of establishing commercial production of biodiesel and other renewable fuel products.

“Securing both the INS and ISCC certifications is a meaningful validation of the work completed by the Greenswitch team,” said Mark Frascogna, the managing director of Hydrogen Valley. “These approvals confirm that our products meet the rigorous standards required to access the higher-value segments of the European biodiesel market, including eligibility for double counting and the associated incentive mechanisms. This strengthens Greenswitch’s position as we advance towards commercial production.”