Southern Energy Renewables Inc. (Southern), a US-based producer of low-cost fuels made from biomass, with a flagship Louisiana project that plans to utilize regional wood-waste biomass to deliver green methanol and carbon-negative sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at scale, has announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with French global chemical process technology provider Axens, an IFP Group company.
According to a statement, the MoU is to collaborate on the development of SAF and related fuel projects, with an initial focus on Southern’s planned biomass-to-fuel facility in Louisiana.
Axens is a global provider of process technologies, equipment, catalysts, and services for the conversion of oil and biomass into cleaner fuels, renewable fuels, and bio-based chemicals, natural gas treatment, and carbon capture solutions.
The company’s portfolio includes more than 3,000 industrial units under license
worldwide and a full suite of solutions from feasibility studies through unit start-up and lifecycle support.
Focus on Louisiana
Under the MoU, Southern is responsible for leading overall project development, including site work, permitting, feedstock and offtake engagement, and coordination with local stakeholders.
Axens is slated to serve as licensor-of-record for key technologies across the value chain, including carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and conditioning and SAF production technologies, to advance a de-risked, bankable pathway from regional
biomass to low-carbon fuels.
The parties expect to focus first on the Louisiana facility, then evaluate additional
opportunities in other regions as appropriate.
Experimental digital token
In parallel with the Axens collaboration, Southern has created an experimental digital token, referred to as “$SAF.”
The current concept is to use $SAF over time as a data layer that helps track and visualize production from Southern’s facilities, starting with limited use at the pilot plant and, subject to further development and approvals, extending to the flagship Louisiana project.
The framework is intended to link token issuance and retirement to measured output and associated operational data, to improve traceability around
SAF production and providing an additional lens on process performance and optimization, without changing how the underlying fuels are produced, sold, or accounted for.
Our strategic alliance with Axens is an important step in our mission to support the United States in strengthening its energy leadership and advancing synthetic fuels. Axens brings a complete, proven suite of technologies from CO2 capture through SAF production, together with deep experience executing projects around the world. The best part is we are providing a solution that will compete globally that provides synthetic aviation fuel at jet parity without subsidies, said Nevin Smalls, Chief Strategy Officer of Southern Energy Renewables.
Framework for cooperation
The MoU is non-binding and outlines the framework for cooperation between Southern and Axens.
Specific projects, contractual terms, and implementation steps remain subject to further negotiation, due diligence, and approvals by the parties and, where applicable, by regulators and financing partners.
We are providing Southern Energy Renewables a complete suite of technologies from the capture of CO2 to the production of SAF to remove technology risk from the equation. We plan to share our extensive knowledge and experience in project development, gathered from projects developed worldwide in the emerging SAF and CO2 spaces. We believe in collaboration and that a partnering spirit is key to navigating the first phases of the project, all the way to the operation of the plant. Together, we can turn technology and commercial innovation into industrial reality, said David Schwalje, VP of Emerging Market Development at Axens.
