Shell C&T will license XTL technology to ENGIE’s France KerEAUzen project, enabling industrial-scale production of sustainable synthetic aviation fuel.
Shell Catalysts & Technologies (Shell C&T) has entered into a technology licensing agreement with ENGIE, a leading global energy company, to support the development of the France KerEAUzen project. The ambitious initiative is designed to produce synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (e-SAF) using captured biogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) and renewable green hydrogen, contributing to the decarbonization of the aviation sector and the advancement of low-carbon fuel technologies across Europe.
As part of the agreement, Shell C&T will provide its advanced Shell XTL Process technology, specifically its power-to-liquids (PTL) configuration, which enables the transformation of captured CO2 into synthetic kerosene suitable for use as aviation fuel. The technology integrates multiple sophisticated conversion stages, allowing carbon dioxide and renewable hydrogen to be efficiently transformed into high-quality liquid fuels.
The process begins with the Shell Reverse Water-Gas Shift (RWGS) technology, where captured CO2 reacts with hydrogen to produce synthesis gas, a critical intermediate used in fuel production. This synthesis gas is subsequently processed through the Shell Fischer–Tropsch technology, a well-established method for converting gas mixtures into long-chain hydrocarbons. Finally, the Shell Wax Hydroconversion Process upgrades these hydrocarbons into premium-quality synthetic kerosene that can be directly blended with conventional jet fuel and meets the stringent sustainability and technical requirements established under the European Union’s ReFuelEU Aviation regulations.
ENGIE selected Shell’s XTL technology due to its strong performance in terms of energy efficiency, commercial maturity, and proven operational reliability. The technology benefits from Shell’s extensive experience in gas-to-liquids (GTL) innovation, including its role in developing and operating Pearl GTL, the world’s largest integrated GTL facility. This decades-long expertise provides ENGIE with confidence that the technology can be successfully deployed at an industrial scale.
The France KerEAUzen facility will be established in Le Havre, Normandy, a strategically important location with excellent connectivity to major aviation and logistics networks. The project was selected under the ADEME Carb Aero initiative, a French program supporting innovative solutions aimed at reducing aviation-related carbon emissions. Its proximity to Paris airports and other major European transport hubs will facilitate the efficient distribution of sustainable aviation fuel throughout France and neighboring European markets.
The project represents a significant milestone in establishing a robust European e-SAF value chain. As the aviation industry faces increasing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve climate goals, synthetic fuels produced from renewable energy sources and recycled carbon are expected to play a vital role in enabling a more sustainable future for air transport.
Elise H. Nowee, President of Shell Catalysts & Technologies, emphasized that the France KerEAUzen project demonstrates how the aviation industry’s transition toward lower-carbon energy solutions is moving beyond strategic ambitions and becoming a practical industrial reality. She highlighted that the application of Shell’s XTL Process in collaboration with ENGIE will help accelerate the large-scale production and adoption of sustainable, drop-in aviation fuels.
Pierre Chambon, Managing Director of Renewable Gases at ENGIE, noted that converting carbon dioxide into aviation fuel requires the successful integration of highly advanced and dependable technologies. He stated that Shell’s XTL Process, supported by the company’s operational expertise and established track record, provides ENGIE with the technological confidence needed to advance the France KerEAUzen project toward full industrial implementation.
