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Figure 1 Gasification and the FT pathway for SAF and e-SAF production
biomass) combined with green H 2 (produced with low-carbon electricity) are the feedstocks for e-SAF (dedicated to aviation fuels) or e-biofuels (generic name). In both cases, the feedstocks are combined with hydrogen to produce e-fuels or SAF. The ASTM D7566 standard for aviation fuels allows for several technological pathways for the production of synthetic kerosene. Axens offers commercial solutions for some of these, such as HEFA-SPK, ATJ-SPK, and FT-SPK, which can be extended to both SAF and e-SAF Expertise in biofuel production: The biomass pathway (whenever green H 2 is added) production. Under the FT-SPK pathway, the BioTfueL (biomass-to-fuel) technology can combine lignocellulosic biomass and renewable hydrogen to create high-quality SAF. Biomass feedstocks are diverse, and it is possible to use energy crops (such as miscanthus), agricultural waste (such as bagasse, rice straw, and wheat straw) and forestry residues. Ideally suited to farmers and industrial players with access to large volumes of these natural residual products, the FT-SPK pathway involves heating the biomass (torrefaction) and converting it into a gas (gasification). Renewable hydrogen becomes important to improve carbon efficiency during syngas conditioning. It is combined with syngas to meet proper conditions to create hydrocarbon products through Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis. Combining biomass and renewable hydrogen in a refinery can create valuable synergies. The
same infrastructure and units are shared, and the biogenic carbon source is concentrated and cost-free. Ambition to operate Europe’s largest SAF production unit Together with its partners (Avril, IFP Energies nouvelles, TotalEnergies, ThyssenKrupp-Uhde, CEA, and other local and financial partners), Axens has proven the value of the BioTfueL technology on two large-scale demonstration plants processing a broad spectrum of lignocellulosic biomasses for the production of SAF and byproducts such as renewable naphtha. Axens is now involved with its partners Elyse Energy, Avril, IFP Investissements, and Bionext in the BioTJet project. This project, which aims to build and operate the largest hydrogen and lignocellulosic biomass-based SAF production unit in Europe, aligns with the European energy transition strategy and the aviation sector’s ambitious decarbonisation objectives. Recognising its potential, the French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME) gave the project support as part of the France 2030 Investments for the Future Program under the call for proposals for the ‘Development of a French Sustainable Aviation Fuel production sector’. Axens is supporting the development of the BioTJet project beyond the conventional role of a licensor and equipment, catalyst, and adsorbent supplier by becoming a shareholder and partner of the BioTJet project company. This equity investment represents a significant milestone for the commercial development of BioTfueL.
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