TotalEnergies signs SAF partnership with Airbus

The partnership involves the supply of the biofuel half of the manufacturer’s needs in Europe and a research programme aimed at developing 100% sustainable fuels.

TotalEnergies and Airbus have signed a strategic partnership to meet the challenges of aviation decarbonization with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

In line with the goal of achieving net carbon neutrality of aviation by 2050, this partnership aims to contribute to the reduction of the sector's CO2 emissions. SAF supplied by TotalEnergies can reduce up to 90% CO2 emissions over lifecycle compared to their fossil fuel equivalent.

"TotalEnergies has been working hard to respond to the sector’s new demand for a reduced carbon footprint. Our Company has set itself a target of 1.5 million tons of annual SAF production by 2030,” said Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies.

The partnership will cover two main areas, the supply of SAF for over half of Airbus’ needs in Europe and a research and innovation programme aimed at developing 100% sustainable fuels.

The latter will be tailored to the design of current and future aircraft and designed to study the impact of the composition of SAF on the reduction of CO2 emissions and non-CO2 effects.

"Accelerating the deployment of sustainable aviation fuels is essential if we are to meet our targets for reducing carbon emissions from aviation by 2030. This partnership between Airbus and TotalEnergies demonstrates the willingness of aerospace manufacturers and major energy producers and suppliers to work together to meet this challenge," added Guillaume Faury, CEO at Airbus.

TotalEnergies has been supplying the SAF used by Airbus for its aircraft deliveries in Toulouse since 2016. The company produces the biofuels from waste and residues from the circular economy (animal fats, used cooking oils, etc.) and "e-jets", synthetic fuels for aviation.