Air France-KLM and TotalEnergies have formalized a deal in which TotalEnergies will provide up to 1.5 million tons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to the Air France-KLM Group over the next ten years, extending to 2035.
This agreement represents one of the largest SAF procurement
contracts established by Air France-KLM to date. In both 2022 and 2023, Air
France-KLM led the world in SAF consumption, accounting for 17% and 16% of
global production, respectively.
Advancing the Decarbonization of European Air Travel
This new contract builds upon a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) from 2022, which initially outlined the supply of 800,000 tons of SAF. By
revisiting this agreement, both parties are reinforcing their commitment to
minimizing the environmental footprint of the aviation industry by actively
reducing CO₂ emissions.
By 2030, Air France-KLM aims to achieve a 30% reduction in
CO₂ emissions per passenger kilometer compared to 2019 levels. The Group plans
to reach this target through a mix of fleet modernization, operational
enhancements such as eco-piloting, and ensuring that at least 10% of the fuel
used on all flights is sustainable aviation fuel. These ambitious objectives
exceed current regulatory requirements.
The sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) provided to Air
France-KLM will be derived from waste and byproducts associated with the
circular economy. This fuel will be produced through coprocessing at
TotalEnergies' biorefineries and refineries located in France and across
Europe. It is intended to power flights operated by Air France-KLM from France,
the Netherlands, and various other European nations. The advancement of SAF is
central to TotalEnergies' strategy for transitioning to meet the aviation
sector's growing demands.
Air France-KLM adheres to a rigorous sourcing policy,
exclusively acquiring second-generation SAF that does not interfere with global
food supplies and is certified for sustainability by RSB or ISCC+.
The use of SAF can lead to a reduction in CO₂ emissions of
at least 75% and potentially up to 90% throughout the entire fuel lifecycle
when compared to traditional fossil fuels.
"SAF plays a crucial role in facilitating the energy
transition for our aviation customers while also driving the industrial
transformation of our refineries. It represents a genuine 'win-win' scenario
for the future of both industry and aviation," stated Patrick Pouyanné,
Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies. "For the last decade, we have been at
the forefront of this initiative, investing in biorefineries and SAF production
facilities in France, as well as enhancing coprocessing technologies in our
refineries. Building on these industrial achievements, we aim to sustain this
progress throughout Europe and beyond."
"Securing the necessary volumes of sustainable aviation
fuel to achieve decarbonization is a significant challenge. This partnership
with TotalEnergies marks another step forward in this endeavor and underscores
our ongoing commitment to fostering SAF production in France and Europe. A
robust SAF sector that can fulfill our industry's requirements is essential for
Europe's energy sovereignty and independence," remarked Benjamin Smith,
Chief Executive Officer of Air France-KLM Group.
This collaboration reflects a long-standing partnership
between TotalEnergies and Air France-KLM
Over the last decade, TotalEnergies and the Air France-KLM
Group have collaborated to explore and implement sustainable aviation fuel
(SAF). This partnership commenced in 2014 with the initiative "Lab’line
for the Future," a two-year project during which 78 Air France flights
between Paris-Orly and Toulouse, as well as between Paris-Orly and Nice,
utilized 10% SAF provided by TotalEnergies.
In January 2020, TotalEnergies and Air France, in
collaboration with Safran and Suez, participated in a Call for Expressions of
Interest initiated by the French government aimed at fostering the development
of a domestic SAF production sector.
Since 2022, TotalEnergies has been supplying SAF to airlines
within the Air France-KLM Group in France, in alignment with the French
incorporation mandate.
Production of SAF in France and Europe
TotalEnergies is making significant investments in
initiatives to enhance the production of sustainable aviation fuel across
France and Europe:
- At the Grandpuits site, TotalEnergies is converting the facility into a zero-oil platform with an investment of 400 million euros. This site will primarily focus on producing SAF from circular economy processes, aiming to generate 210,000 tons of sustainable aviation fuel by 2025, with an additional 75,000 tons expected by 2027.
- In Normandy, TotalEnergies has commenced SAF production at its Gonfreville refinery, with plans to ramp up output to 160,000 tons of SAF annually by 2025.
- At La Mède, TotalEnergies has allocated 340 million euros to transform its refinery into a biorefinery. An additional investment of 70 million euros in 2024 will enable the processing of up to 100% waste from the circular economy to produce SAF by 2025. Since 2021, biodiesel produced at La Mède has been utilized to create SAF at TotalEnergies' Oudalle facility near Le Havre.
TotalEnergies is also exploring the potential for SAF
production through co-processing at its other refineries across Europe by 2025.