TotalEnergies’ Normandy integrated platform now producing SAF

TotalEnergies SE has started production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from a new plant at its 253,000-b/d integrated Normandy refining and petrochemicals platform in Gonfreville l’Orcher, France (OGJ Online, June 4, 2021).

The new plant, which officially began producing SAF in March, complements biojet fuel production from TotalEnergies’ La Mède biorefinery—France’s first—at Bouches-du-Rhône on the French Riviera, as well as the Oudalle plant in Seine-Maritime, near Le Havre, the operator said in a release.

While the company did not reveal details regarding the volume of SAF currently produced at the Normandy platform, the operator did confirm output from the new plant—all of which is destined for French airports—will enable the company to meet increased demand in line with France’s recently enacted legislation as of Jan. 1, 2022, that calls for aircraft to use at least 1% SAF to help incrementally replace fossil-based jet fuel as part of the country’s broader commitment of addressing climate change through 2050.

TotalEnergies additionally confirmed it remains on track by 2024 to begin production of SAF from a new biorefinery under construction as part of the operator’s Project Galaxie repurposing of its former 101,000-b/d Grandpuits refinery at Seine-et-Marne near Melun, southeast of Paris.

The company previously said it also expects to complete by 2024 its more than €500-million conversion of the entire Grandpuits site into a zero-crude industrial platform (OGJ Online, Sept. 28, 2020).

"By announcing the start-up of SAF production at [Normandy], we are responding to strong demand from the aviation industry to reduce its carbon footprint. We are also confirming our commitment to support customers by offering innovative solutions to reduce their emissions,” said Bernard Pinatel, TotalEnergies’ president of refining and chemicals.

Last year, TotalEnergies said production of biofuels—which reduce carbon emissions by at least 50% compared to their fossil equivalents—plays an important role in its broader net-zero strategy to meet carbon neutrality, as well as in France’s roadmap for incorporating 2% of SAF by 2025, 5% by 2030, and 50% by 2050 as part of the broader global energy transition (OGJ Online, Dec. 6, 2021).

TotalEnergies began supplying SAF to French aircraft operators beginning in 2021, according to the operator’s website.