Holcim, IFPEN, Axens and EDF have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop 'Take Kair' – an innovative industrial e-kerosene pilot in Pays de la Loire, France, that will meet the needs of the new French e-SAF industry. The Air France-KLM Group would be the main offtaker 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 decarbonisation 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 carbon dioxide (CO2) of its cement plant located in Saint-Pierre-La-Cour in Mayenne, France, in line with its plan to decarbonise its production sites, integrating programmes to capture and recover CO2 emissions to allow for 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 know-how developed both by its subsidiary Hynamics, specialised 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 1 million tpy of CO2. 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 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.