A plan to produce biofuels in Cartagena is advancing as a Ryanair project. The oil company is building a facility in Escombrerás to transform spent cooking oil and other food-industry waste into a sustainable fuel. This fuel is intended to power Ryanair’s fleet between 2025 and 2030, supporting a path to lower emissions in commercial aviation.
By 2024, when the facilities are completed, the plant is expected to convert about 300,000 tons of waste annually into as much as 250,000 tons of advanced biofuels for transportation use.
Repsol signs agreement with Ryanair to promote renewable fuels in aviation
The new product is positioned as a practical option for airlines because air travel currently lacks ready-made alternatives. It can be deployed using existing infrastructure, technology, and fleets without requiring engine changes.
Repsol and Ryanair announced an agreement to supply 155,000 tons of sustainable aviation biofuels to the airline over the last five years of the decade.
The volume aligns with a portion of the airline’s route activity, including flights such as the Dublin to Madrid service described in a joint statement by both companies.
Calculations suggest replacing kerosene with sustainable fuel could yield roughly 490,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions reductions.
The Cartagena facility is set to begin producing sustainable fuel from natural waste, described as the first advanced biofuel facility in Spain, with plans to expand to other sites.
The construction represents an investment surpassing 200 million euros and will enable the production of advanced biofuels from various waste streams, including used cooking oils and other agri-food byproducts.
Company representatives noted that renewable fuels offer a sustainable solution across mobility segments, especially for sectors lacking viable decarbonization options such as shipping, long-haul road transport, and aviation.
They emphasized that adopting these next-generation products would help achieve net-zero travel emissions relative to traditional fuels by leveraging existing infrastructure and avoiding the need for new technologies or fleet overhauls.
Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson stated that the airline aims to reach 12.5% sustainable aviation fuel use by 2030.
“Attaining this target requires a mix of raw materials and production methods, and we are encouraged by Repsol to pursue multiple solutions. We look forward to expanding this collaboration as our group grows to carry 225 million passengers annually by 2026,” he noted.
Repsol highlighted its ambition to reach 1.3 million tons of renewable fuel production capacity by 2025 and two million tons by 2030, aiming to lead the Iberian market and push toward net-zero emissions by 2050.
The Cartagena facility is in the final construction phase ahead of commissioning, which includes equipment inspection and testing before operation. More than 140 contractors are involved, employing an average of 550 workers from auxiliary firms, with peaks up to 800.
The project team emphasized that the circular economy approach allows waste that would otherwise go to landfills to be transformed into high value-added products, giving them a second life.
Company confirms new facility is a pioneer in Spain
Repsol asserts that the Cartagena plant, dedicated to renewable biofuels, positions the company as a pioneer in Spain. It expects to align with community agency measures encouraging sustainable aviation fuels and notes that decarbonization requires continued innovation. Valero Marín, Repsol’s Customer General Manager, pointed out that these new products address aviation’s need for viable decarbonization solutions as the company moves toward net-zero emissions by 2050. The Ryanair agreement reinforces this commitment.
This collaboration highlights the industry shift toward sustainable aviation fuels and the role of waste-to-fuel technologies in reducing the environmental footprint of air travel. The project underscores a broader strategy to diversify feedstocks and scale production in line with regional climate and energy goals. (Source attribution: Repsol press materials and company statements, 2024)