Biomass-to-SAF project will take place in France
BioTfueL technology from thyssenkrupp will join the BioTJet project after being selected by Elyse Energy and its partners, Axens, Avril, and IFPEN to join the programme which will produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from end-of-life wood waste and local forestry residues and application of green hydrogen.
BioTJet aims to supply sustainable aviation fuel in an effort to reduce carbon intensity in air transport by 2029, whilst also providing e-bio-naphtha for road transport.
Axens signed a license agreement for BioTfueL technology in 2024, included in which is Prenflo gasification technology from thyssenkrupp Uhde and a Gasel technology from Axens. Basic engineering was completed in November 2024 and is currently in the detail engineering phase.
Pascal Penicaud, president of Elyse Energy: “After thoroughly examining the available and bankable technologies, we are now more convinced than ever that we have made the right choice for our project with the E-BioTfueL concept and the technology partners involved to provide cost-competitive SAF and naphtha to the market by 2030 and contribute to address climate change.”
ReFuelEU Aviation regulations has set a quote of 2% of jet fuels being sustainable within the EU, with a target of 70% to be achieved by 2050. Using the RED EU definition, BioTJe project is based on the E-BioTfueeL concept, which combines biomass eligible to produce advanced biofuels, and green or low-carbon hydrogen eligible to produce renewable fuel of non-biological origin.
These processes have been developed and tested in a semi-industrial plant from 2010 up to 2021 by the Bionext consortium, and now have been brought to the forefront of fuel of non-biological origin.
Nadja Håkansson, CEO of thyssenkrupp Uhde: “We are proud to see how the E-BioTfueL concept – which includes our advanced Prenflo technology – has now turned into a first commercial Biomass-to-SAF application in the European Community. The collaboration with our French partners underscores our commitment to driving the green transformation and delivering sustainable value to our customers and stakeholders.”
Quentin Debuisschert, CEO of Axens: “Axens, along with our parent company IFP Energies Nouvelles, has invested significant capital in demonstrating technologies at semi commercial scale and advancing the energy transition, particularly in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) processes. We are thrilled to be part of the BioTJet project, which is strategic for Axens and our longtime partner thyssenkrupp Uhde. The BioTJet project leverages a breakthrough technology, BioTfueL®," underscoring our commitment to innovative solutions in the energy sector.”
Methanol, hydrogen, and SAF can be produced using the Prenflo gasification technology, part of thyssenkrupp’s decarbonisation technologies portfolio. The process started out in the Koppers-Totzek process and has been continuously refined to meet changing industry standards, now capable of handling a wide range of feedstocks with robustness and flexibility.a
