Total Energies begins making SAF in Normandy, France

Photo: Total Energies

Total Energies announced in early March that in January the company began coprocessing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at its Normandy platform. This new site complements SAF production capacities of its La Mède biorefinery (Bouches-du-Rhône) and Oudalle plant (Seine-Maritime) in France.

This move enables Total Energies to meet demand from its customers and respond to French legislation, which calls for aircraft to use at least 1 percent SAF effective Jan. 1, 2022.

Total Energies will also produce SAF at its Grandpuits zero-crude platform southeast of Paris starting in 2024.

All of the SAF, which is destined for French airports, will be produced from waste and residue sourced notably from the circular economy.

“By announcing the start-up of SAF production at a new site in France, we are responding to strong demand from the aviation industry to reduce its carbon footprint,” said Bernard Pinatel, president of refining and chemicals at Total Energies. “We are also confirming our commitment to support customers by offering innovative solutions to reduce their emissions. This commitment is fully aligned with the company’s climate ambition to get to net-zero emissions by 2050, together with society.”

Total Energies has been involved in numerous SAF initiatives since 2014.

The Normandy Platform is one of Total Energies Refining & Chemicals’ six integrated platforms worldwide. It comprises a refinery, a petrochemicals facility and a polymer production site. The Normandy refinery is the largest in France, accounting for 12 percent of the country’s refining capacity. The Normandy Platform is currently conducting, deploying or studying 14 projects to get to net zero by 2050. These include sustainable aviation fuel, electrification of its vehicle fleet, a solar farm, and low-carbon hydrogen using carbon capture and storage.