Airbus, TotalEnergies sign SAF deal
Partnership to cover supply by TotalEnergies of SAF for more than half of Airbus' needs in Europe
A319neo flight test aircraft refuelled with sustainable aviation fuel
Airbus and TotalEnergies signed a partnership to address the challenges of decarbonising aviation through sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
"SAF supplied by TotalEnergies can reduce up to 90 percent CO2 emissions over their life cycle compared to their fossil fuel equivalent," says a release from Airbus.
The partnership will cover two main areas:
*The supply by TotalEnergies of SAF for more than half of Airbus' needs in Europe; and
*A research and innovation programme aimed at developing 100 percent sustainable fuels tailored to the design of current and future aircraft. The impact of the composition of SAF on the reduction of CO2 emissions and non-CO2 effects, such as contrails, will also be studied.
TotalEnergies has been supplying the SAF used by Airbus for its aircraft deliveries in Toulouse since 2016, the release added. TotalEnergies also supplied the fuel for several first SAF flights with Airbus aircraft:
*In May 2021, the first long-haul flight using French-produced SAF with an A350 between Paris and Montreal;
*In November 2021, the first flight of a H225 helicopter from the Super Puma family using 100 percent SAF, and
*In March 2023, the first A321neo flight with 100 percent SAF.
"The development of sustainable aviation fuels is at the heart of our Company's transition strategy," says Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, TotalEnergies. "We are happy to form a strategic alliance with Airbus to play our part in meeting the challenge of aviation decarbonisation together. 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 tonnes of annual SAF production by 2030".
Guillaume Faury, CEO, Airbus adds: "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. We are determined to meet our decarbonisation targets and ensure that aviation can continue to play its valuable role for society in the future."
