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Innovation in the circular economy

Circular economy at Repsol Technology Lab

We develop technological solutions across the company’s different businesses, which allow us to optimize resources and help us achieve our goal of net zero emissions by 2050. At the Repsol Technology Lab, we are working alongside other companies and organizations (customers, tech centers, startups, etc.) to speed up the development of these technologies and roll them out in projects.

Circularity through design

From the initial conceptualization stages, we proactively work on the eco-design of new products and materials with a view to increasing the life cycle of the products, reducing waste, consuming as few raw materials as possible, and increasing the recyclability of the products we sell so that, once recycled, the waste re-enters the production process as raw materials.

Circularity through alternative raw materials

We are working on the use of alternative raw materials such as CO₂ or lignocellulose waste to produce new circular products. We conduct research to be able to use the CO₂ emissions generated in our processes to create new products. This is a huge challenge because CO₂ is highly stable and requires special conditions to be able to transform it.

We are also working on the development of processes that allow for the use of lignocellulose waste to produce advanced synthetic fuels at our refineries.

Circularity through recycling

Our innovations in advanced recycling technologies are aimed at increasing the type of raw materials from waste that can be used in our production processes. These technologies enable our Materials and Refining businesses to process different types waste (municipal waste, biomass, plastic waste, etc.) that are transformed into advanced fuels and circular chemical products, such as our circular styrene and polymers.

As part of the Rewofuel project, we worked on the design of a biorefinery that processes vegetable waste to obtain isobutylene.

As part of our circular polymers project, we transform plastic waste into a new raw material — pyrolysis oil — which our plants can process to produce new polymers.

Our experts give us their take on innovation in the circular economy

Francisco Javier Carvajal González

Expert in Spectroscopy, Analytical Chemistry and waste sorting

"Plastic is too valuable in our lives, we can’t just cast it aside".

María del Mar González Barroso

Expert in Biotechnology

"Innovating in biotechnology provides us with tools to respond to the global challenges we face and offers ways of achieving our sustainable development goals".

Rebeca Yuste, Expert in Circular Economy and Biofuels

Rebeca Yuste Pilar

Expert in Circular Economy and Advanced Biofuels

"Technology enables us to give a second life to waste by revaluating it and transforming it into sustainable products".

Strategic partnerships in the circular economy

We work with over 180 strategic partners, bodies, and institutions to develop circular initiatives, creating the necessary synergies to speed up the roll out of circular economy projects.

BTG

VTT

IMDEA

GNRS

CNRS

Sintef

Circular economy

As an integrated energy company, we have a circular economy strategy based on four key lines that have served as the basis for developing more than 200 initiatives.

Find out more about the circular economy

Aerial view of the Petronor refinery facilities

Fuel generation plant using waste

Thanks to innovation and technology, we can recover leftover energy from urban waste that has reached the end of its useful life in order to produce fuels.

Learn how we do it