In a decisive step towards aviation decarbonization, TotalEnergies and French agro-industrial leader Avril have forged a partnership focused on cultivating a sustainable supply chain for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) within France. This collaboration is intended to bolster the local production of SAF by fostering the cultivation of "intermediate crops"—plants sown between main harvests on the same plots—which can be transformed into vegetable oils for use in SAF without competing with food and animal feed production. This approach aligns with the European Union’s rigorous SAF incorporation goals, which mandate at least 2% SAF use by 2025 and escalate to 70% by 2050.

The strategic deployment of intermediate crops presents multiple advantages. These crops comply fully with European regulations for SAF production while contributing additional income streams for farmers, thus strengthening agricultural viability. Beyond their conversion into biofuels, these plants also yield valuable plant proteins, enhancing France and Europe’s protein sovereignty for animal feed. The agronomic benefits are significant: reduced soil erosion, improved soil structure, decreased water loss, and enhanced biodiversity—each a vital element of sustainable farming practices.

TotalEnergies and Avril’s agreement entails a thorough evaluation of the entire value chain—from selecting optimal plant varieties to biofuel production. Avril will oversee the supply of vegetable oils derived from these crops, while TotalEnergies will process them into SAF at its French biorefineries, including La Mède and Grandpuits. The Grandpuits facility, in particular, is expected to reach an annual SAF production capacity of 230,000 tons by 2026. TotalEnergies will also employ co-processing techniques at its French and broader European refineries to increase SAF output.

This collaboration is part of a broader industry movement involving TotalEnergies' strategic partnerships within the aviation sector. For instance, TotalEnergies has recently entered into an alliance with Airbus aimed at supplying over half of Airbus's SAF needs in Europe. The partnership extends beyond supply to include joint research to develop next-generation sustainable fuels tailored for future aircraft, thus reinforcing the overarching aim of achieving net carbon neutrality in aviation by 2050. SAF from TotalEnergies has the potential to reduce lifecycle carbon emissions by up to 90% compared with conventional fossil fuels.

Moreover, TotalEnergies has solidified long-term commitments with airlines such as Air France-KLM. Building on their 2022 memorandum, the companies expanded their agreement to supply up to 1.5 million tons of SAF by 2035. This SAF will primarily be produced from waste and residue feedstocks via TotalEnergies’ biorefineries and refining co-processing, underscoring a circular economy approach to decarbonizing air travel.

Despite these ambitious plans, the pathway to widespread SAF adoption faces notable hurdles. At a recent International Air Transport Association (IATA) summit, representatives from airlines and energy companies, including TotalEnergies, highlighted tensions over SAF’s limited availability and high cost—currently about three times that of conventional kerosene. While SAF presently accounts for only around 0.5% of fuel consumption in aviation, there is significant pressure on energy companies to accelerate investment and production. Industry leaders caution that realizing the 2050 net-zero target will require substantial policy support and infrastructure development, given the ongoing rapid recovery in air travel demand post-pandemic.

Against this complex backdrop, the TotalEnergies-Avril partnership anticipates not only establishing a robust and sustainable domestic supply chain for SAF but also advancing innovation in agricultural and biofuel production practices within France. By integrating sustainable agricultural techniques with state-of-the-art biofuel processing, this collaboration seeks to exemplify how localized, circular, and ecologically responsible measures can contribute meaningfully to the European Union’s ambitious climate and energy goals, ultimately carving a greener future for air transport.

Source: Noah Wire Services