IFPEN, Axens and EDF announce signing of MOU to develop "Take Kair" SAF project
IFPEN, Axens and EDF announce that they have signed Memorandum of Understanding to develop "Take Kair", an innovative industrial e-kerosene pilot in Pays de la Loire, which will meet the needs of the new French e-SAF industry. The Air France-KLM Group would be the main off-taker of the e-kerosene produced by this new industrial facility. The production of hydrogen and synthetic fuels would take place in Loire-Atlantique, France, with commercial openings, either local, regional or national.
This cooperation will contribute to the development of the French SAF production industry, a priority raised by the French President of the Republic during his speech on 16 June 2023. The production of e-kerosene will contribute to the decarbonization of air transport and this project anticipates the future European regulation "ReFuel Aviation".
The success of this project relies on the commitment of the partners to explore opportunities for industrial cooperation, based on their respective expertise:
- For the Holcim group, the capture of biogenic CO2 of its cement plant located in Saint-Pierre-La-Cour in Mayenne, France, in line with its plan to decarbonize its production sites, integrating programs to capture and recover CO2 emissions to allow the production of green e-fuels for aviation.
- For IFPEN and Axens, the development and integration of low-carbon fuel synthesis processes and their experience in SAF production technologies.
- For the EDF Group, the development of its CO2-neutral electricity production facilities and the knowhow developed both by its subsidiary Hynamics, specialized in the production of low-carbon and renewable hydrogen by water electrolysis, and by its engineering department allowing the security of its major industrial projects.
The "Take Kair" project, one of the first industrial e-SAF production projects in France, will avoid the emission of more than one hundred kilotons of CO2 per year. It is therefore in line with the French government's objectives in terms of decarbonizing air transport and it will be a candidate for public financial support for the emergence of a French e-fuel industry, which is why it was presented at the beginning of 2023 to The French
Agency for Ecological Transition ADEME and to the French Ministries in charge of Energy Transition, of Industry and of Transport. Provided the necessary financing is obtained, the objective is to start the construction of the industrial pilot in 2026 for a first phase of production in 2028.
A pioneer in the experimentation and use of SAF, the Air France-KLM Group is a partner in the project. As the world's largest buyer of SAF in 2022, the Group aims to incorporate at least 10% SAF into its global flights by 2030, beyond French and European regulatory obligations. The use of e-kerosene from the "Take Kair" project will contribute to the achievement of this objective and the more global objective of a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions per passenger-kilometer by 2030 compared to 2019. By joining the "Take Kair" project, Air France-KLM gives it the opportunity to access the emerging SAF market in Europe as well as the visibility and bankability that will be necessary for its financing.
Cédric Lewandowski, Group Executive Vice President in charge of EDF's Nuclear and Thermal Assets Department, said: "With the Take Kair project, EDF, the world's first producer of low-carbon electricity, notably thanks to its nuclear power plants, confirms the commitment made, in particular through its hydrogen plan, to accelerate the deep decarbonization of the sectors that contribute at the highest to CO2 emissions. While contributing to the decarbonization of the industry, it brings a complement to bio-energies for the decarbonization of the aviation sector. Our know-how and expertise combined with those of our industrial partners enables the emergence of a strong and innovative French e-fuel sector. With Take Kair, we are collectively taking another essential step towards the goal of carbon neutrality. » .”
François Petry, President of Holcim France, said: "The decarbonization of our processes and products is at the heart of our strategic commitment to reach Net Zero by 2050. Beyond the modernization of our production tools, we work on all industrial and technological levers to reduce our emissions and thus decarbonize our industry. With the Take Kair project, we are taking a decisive step in the capture and management of our residual CO2 emissions and participate with our partners in the emergence of an innovative and sustainable sector serving the country's mobility needs.”
"We are very pleased to contribute, alongside our partners and thanks to our synergies, to the emergence of a new French e-fuel sector. With Take Kair, IFPEN reaffirms its commitment to the decarbonization of the aviation sector and to national energy sovereignty. Synthetic fuels will complement advanced biofuels, an area in which the IFPEN group, especially with its subsidiary Axens, offers several technologies to reduce aeronautics’ carbon footprint. " said Pierre-Franck Chevet, President of IFPEN.
Jean Sentenac, Chairman and CEO of Axens, said: "Axens is proud to see its expertise and technologies at the center of one of the first industrial e-kerosene production projects’ development in France, alongside emblematic players of the French industry. This marks another step towards decarbonizing the aviation sector."
Fatima Da Gloria de Sousa, Vice President Sustainability of the Air France-KLM Group said: "The development of Sustainable Aviation Fuel production capabilities is essential for the successful decarbonization of air transport. It is also a great opportunity to create jobs and strengthen the energy independence of France and Europe. Air France-KLM actively supports projects like Take Kair which aim to remove the first obstacle to the use of sustainable fuel: its availability.”
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