Holcim, EDF, IFPEN (Institut Français du Pétrole et des Energies Nouvelles) and Axens are joining forces to develop e-kerosene to decarbonise France's aviation industry.
Holcim will join ‘Take Kair’ project with its cement plant in Saint-Pierre-La-Cour, where it will capture biogenic CO2; IPFEN and its affiliate Axens will provide the technology for the synthesis; EDF will turn the CO2 into e-kerosene, a synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (e-SAF). As a partner, Air France-KLM will be the main buyer of the e-kerosene produced by this new industrial activity.
Miljan Gutovic, Region Head for Europe, Holcim: “Holcim is becoming a net-zero company, with 1.5°C-aligned targets scientifically validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Next-generation technologies, such as carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) will play a key role in enabling a net-zero future. Their development requires robust partnerships across the value chain, from public authorities to companies from different industries. ‘Take Kair’ is a good example of how we can all join forces to decarbonise a sector like aviation for a more sustainable future.”
Holcim is scoping over 50 CCUS projects worldwide, 11 of which are flagship projects based on mature technologies and strong partnerships. By 2030 Holcim is committed to investing CHF 2 billion in CCUS and capturing more than 5 million tons of CO2 annually. Holcim’s projects range from carbon capture and storage to utilisation, including mineralisation to produce low-carbon cement, to using it as a greenhouse gas for farming or feedstock for other industries.
‘Take Kair’ is one of the first industrial projects of its kind in France. Once operational, it will avoid over 100,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year, in line with the French government’s targets for decarbonising air transport, to anticipate the upcoming European ‘ReFuel Aviation’ regulation.
