French consortium to develop “Take Kair” eSAF pilot

According to a statement, the production of hydrogen and synthetic fuels would take place in Loire-Atlantique, with commercial openings, either local, regional, or national.

This cooperation will contribute to the development of a French sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production industry, a priority raised by French President Macron during his speech on June 16, 2023.

The production of eSAF will contribute to the decarbonization of air transport and this project anticipates the future European Union (EU) “ReFuel Aviation” regulation.

National air carrier Air France-KLM Group would be the main off-taker of the eSAF produced by this new industrial facility.

Strong consortium

The success of this project relies on the commitment of the partners to explore opportunities for industrial cooperation, based on their respective expertise.

For technology providers IFPEN and its subsidiary Axens, the development and integration of low-carbon fuel synthesis processes and respective experience in SAF production technologies.

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, said Jean Sentenac, Chairman and CEO of Axens.

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.

For Holcim France, part of global construction materials and solutions major Holcim Group, the capture of biogenic carbon dioxide (CO₂) from its cement plant located in Saint-Pierre-La-Cour in Mayenne, is 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.

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 participating with our partners in the emergence of an innovative and sustainable sector serving the country’s mobility needs, said François Petry, President of Holcim France.

For energy major Groupe EDF, the development of its CO₂-neutral electricity production facilities and the know-how 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 control of its major industrial projects.

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 to 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 toward the goal of carbon neutrality, said Cédric Lewandowski, Group EVP in charge of EDF’s Nuclear and Thermal Park Department.

Call for public funding

One of the first industrial eSAF production projects in France, “Take Kair” is anticipated to avoid the emission of over 100 000 tonnes of CO₂ per annum.

As such it is 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 Agency for Environment and Energy Management (ADEME) and to the French Ministries in charge of the Energy Transition, Industry, and Transport.

Provided the necessary financing is obtained, the objective is to start the construction of the industrial pilot in 2026 for the first phase of production in 2028.

Aiming for 10 percent SAF

A pioneer in the experimentation and use of SAF, the Air France-KLM Group is a partner in the project. As one of the world’s largest buyers of SAF in 2022, the Group aims to incorporate at least 10 percent of SAF into its global flights by 2030, beyond French and European regulatory obligations.

The use of eSAF from the “Take Kair” project will contribute to the achievement of this objective and the global objective of a 30 percent reduction in CO2 emissions per passenger-kilometer by 2030 compared to 2019.

By joining the “Take Kair” project, Air France-KLM has the opportunity to access the emerging SAF market in Europe as well as the visibility and bankability that will be necessary for its financing.

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, said Fatima Da Gloria de Sousa, VP Sustainability of Air France-KLM Group.