At several Repsol service stations in Spain, drivers have noticed a vivid new detail: pink pumps dispensing renewable fuel. More than a marketing move, the change points to one way Spain is tackling transport emissions while combustion vehicles remain on the road alongside the shift to electric mobility.
Repsol sells renewable diesel and Nexa 95 petrol made from non-fossil feedstocks, including used oils and animal fats, as well as agricultural residues and other organic waste. These “drop-in” fuels closely resemble conventional petrol and diesel, so existing vehicles and fuel infrastructure can use them without mechanical modifications, subject to vehicle compatibility guidance. Repsol operates more than 3,250 service stations in Spain, giving it an extensive network through which to sell the fuels.
The size of Spain’s existing fleet helps explain the interest in options that do not require drivers to replace their vehicles. Motor16 reports that 12.9 million of the country’s 26.7 million passenger cars are more than 15 years old, while almost two-thirds are over a decade old. The same coverage found that 80% of private respondents and 77% of professionals considered certification and traceability impressive for proving renewable fuel’s origin.
Renewable vs. Synthetic Fuels
Renewable fuels and synthetic e-fuels are different technologies. E-fuels combine renewable hydrogen, produced through water electrolysis, with captured carbon dioxide. Their potential emissions benefit depends on the energy and carbon used across production and consumption; burning petrol still produces exhaust emissions. E-fuels remain scarce. El Debate has reported projected prices of roughly €3-€4 per litre by 2030, reflecting production costs and limited scale.
Repsol’s Nexa fuels, by contrast, use biological waste and other renewable feedstocks. Their drop-in design lets drivers use existing vehicles and infrastructure, subject to the vehicle manufacturer’s compatibility guidance. They offer a possible way to cut emissions from the combustion fleet already in use, alongside battery-electric vehicles.
Nexa 95: Expanding the Offer
Repsol sells renewable diesel under the Nexa name and is expanding Nexa 95, its 100% renewable petrol. The reported price premium is about 9 cents per litre over standard 95-octane petrol. Independent coverage has also put the premium for Nexa fuels at around €0.15-€0.20 per litre, depending on the product and comparison. Drivers should check their vehicle documentation for compatibility.
Repsol says Nexa 95 can cut net lifecycle CO₂ emissions by more than 70% compared with conventional fossil petrol. That figure covers the full fuel lifecycle, not just exhaust emissions: vehicles running on renewable petrol still emit CO₂ from the tailpipe. The result depends on the feedstock and the energy used in processing, as well as how the lifecycle is measured. “Renewable” does not mean zero tailpipe emissions.
Existing retail infrastructure is basic to Repsol’s offer. The company says its network spans more than 3,250 stations across Spain, letting it sell renewable fuels through a system motorists already know instead of requiring dedicated vehicle technology or fuelling equipment.
Pilot Project and Regional Rollout
A Spanish real-world trial began in July 2026 and was planned to run for six months, with around 20 vehicles from Toyota, BMW and MINI. The cars use Nexa 95, while a Bosch-developed digital verification system records whether conventional petrol has been used. The programme aims to assess compatibility and performance in everyday operation without mechanical modifications. Participating companies say the petrol works with existing engines and fuel infrastructure, subject to vehicle guidance.
Currently, 30 Repsol stations across Madrid, Catalonia, Valencia, the Basque Country and Aragón offer Nexa 95, with more locations planned in the coming years. The rollout gives the fuel a retail foothold as the pilot tests it in everyday driving. One addresses access to the product; the other tests performance in vehicles already on the road.
Repsol is also developing renewable hydrogen capacity at its Cartagena industrial complex in Murcia. A planned Repsol-Enagás Renovable project in the Valle de Escombreras targets electrolyser capacity of 100 MW and is expected to produce more than 14,500 tonnes of renewable hydrogen annually. At first, that hydrogen is intended to replace some conventional hydrogen used in refinery processes, cutting industrial production emissions rather than directly fuelling retail vehicles. Cartagena complex director Rafael Quesada has said the site can adjust production to meet market needs. He also said Spain’s refining capacity matters because Europe does not produce all the diesel it consumes.
Context and Outlook
Renewable fuels are part of a broader European debate about cutting transport emissions while millions of older cars remain on the road. Compatible combustion vehicles can use them without a powertrain change, while electric vehicles continue to grow as another route to lower-emission mobility. Renewable petrol’s emissions benefit is measured across the fuel lifecycle; it does not eliminate tailpipe emissions.
For drivers, the pink pumps at Repsol stations offer another fuelling option without a vehicle change, subject to compatibility requirements. Electric, hybrid and renewable-fuelled vehicles are likely to coexist on Spain’s roads as the fleet changes. A recent analysis of the BYD Atto 2’s entry into Spain’s mainstream market offers further perspective on the electric vehicle market’s development alongside these innovations: see how new electric SUVs are challenging traditional models.
