Circular and decentralized refineries for a sustainable energy transition

Conventional refining accounts for approximately 6 % of global CO₂ emissions and consumes almost 20 % of industrial energy, making the urgency of the transition to decentralized and sustainable biorefinery networks evident. Process intensification, which includes technologies such as reactive distillation and thermally coupled columns, achieves energy savings of up to 50 % and operating cost reductions of 30 % to 45 %, ensuring environmental and economic viability. Meanwhile, digitalization supports predictive maintenance and process optimization, improving refining margins by up to 10 % and reducing emissions by 5 % to 15 %. Decentralized configurations facilitate the use of Integrated Renewable Energy Systems and Power-to-X technologies, which leverage solar, wind, and electrolytic energy to reduce carbon emissions by 10 % to 50 % and operating costs by up to 42 %. These strategies are aligned with the principles of the circular economy and provide flexible and locally adapted energy solutions. However, achieving deep industrial decarbonization requires strong policy frameworks, strategic investments in infrastructure, and coordinated actions across sectors. This review describes the technological, economic and environmental implications of the decentralized biorefinery, emphasizing its transformative potential in reconfiguring the refining sector into a resilient and low-emission grid capable of supporting the global transition towards sustainable energy systems.