Total to use low-carbon hydrogen from unit built by Air Liquide at Grandpuits site to produce SAF

Total Energies' Grandpuits site in France, where the company is converting the complex into a zero-crude platform (Photo: Total Energies)

Under a long-term contract, Air Liquide will invest more than 130 million euros in the construction and operation of a new unit capable of producing more than 20,000 tons of partly renewable, low-carbon hydrogen at Total Energies’ Grandpuits site, where Total Energies will use the hydrogen to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

This unit will partly use biogas from the biorefinery built by Total Energies, and will be delivered with Air Liquide’s trademarked carbon-capture technology, Cryocap.

These innovations will prevent emissions amounting to 150,000 metric tons of CO2 a year compared to current processes.

In line with the two companies’ shared ambition to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, this project is based on an innovative sustainable and circular approach.

Image: Air Liquide

The Air Liquide Cryocap H2 carbon-capture unit will enable reuse of more than 110,000 tons of CO2 per year in agrifood and industrial applications, contributing to reducing the site’s carbon footprint.

“This innovative project is characterized by the combination of several solutions in order to produce renewable and low-carbon hydrogen and contribute to the decarbonization of Total Energies’ Grandpuits site,” said Pascal Vinet, senior vice president and member of Air Liquide’s executive committee. “It also provides the opportunity to recycle CO2 as part of a circular-economy approach while securing its supply for agrifood applications. This project illustrates Air Liquide’s expertise in working with its customers on customized solutions to help them reduce their carbon footprint and actively participate in the fight against global warming. It provides yet another example of the key role that hydrogen will play to succeed in the energy transition.”

Bernard Pinatel, president of refining and chemicals at Total Energies, added, “By recycling the biogas produced by the biorefinery into renewable hydrogen, this innovative project makes full use of the conversion of the Grandpuits refinery into a zero-crude platform harnessing the potential of biomass, especially in the production of sustainable aviation fuel. Combined with the production of low-carbon hydrogen and the capture of CO2, this project contributes to Total Energies’ ambition to decarbonize all of the hydrogen used by its European refineries by 2030.”