Paris: French technology company Axens has announced plans to build France’s first industrial-scale sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production unit based on advanced bioethanol, marking a significant step in expanding low-carbon aviation fuel production in Europe.
The project, named ERA (Ethanol to Refuel Aviation), will have an annual production capacity of 50,000 tonnes of SAF and is expected to begin operations in 2030. The company is currently selecting a site for the facility in France.
The ERA project complements Axens’ broader strategy to develop low-carbon fuels alongside its NACRE project, an advanced bioethanol production facility at Lacq that has already secured construction approval.
Axens said the aviation industry’s growing demand for sustainable aviation fuel requires new production pathways beyond the widely used Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) route, which relies on used cooking oil and animal fats.
The new facility will instead use advanced bioethanol produced from European biomass residues, helping diversify SAF feedstocks while strengthening the energy security of France and the European Union.
The project is currently in the engineering phase and will be developed by a dedicated project company, SAFIRIS.
The plant will utilise Jetanol® technology, jointly developed by Axens and the French Institute of Petroleum and New Energies (IFPEN). The technology has been proven in petrochemical applications and has been optimised to maximise sustainable aviation fuel yields from advanced ethanol.
According to the company, the project will contribute to the decarbonisation of the aviation sector by expanding the availability of SAF produced from non-food biomass residues, supporting Europe’s long-term climate and energy transition goals.
