TotalEnergies is spearheading sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production with plans to exceed 500,000 tons annually by 2028, surpassing EU mandates. Through investments in biorefineries, strategic airline partnerships, and R&D collaborations with Airbus and Safran, the company is driving decarbonization in aviation and reinforcing its net-zero commitment.
TotalEnergies is at the forefront of efforts to decarbonize the aviation sector by producing and distributing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to meet the growing demand from industry. The company aims to significantly contribute to the aviation sector’s energy transition, with plans to produce over 500,000 tons of SAF annually by 2028. This output will exceed the European Union's 2030 mandate requiring 6% SAF blending, enabling TotalEnergies to supply over 10% of the jet fuel it markets in Europe as SAF.
Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, emphasized the company’s proactive stance: “TotalEnergies is responding to the aviation industry’s call to reduce its carbon emissions. SAF is a key short-term solution, aligning with our broader goal of reaching net zero alongside society. We have spent over a decade pioneering investments in biorefineries and integrating coprocessing in our refining operations.”
Key SAF Production Initiatives
• Grandpuits Biorefinery (France): Following a €500 million investment, this site is being transformed into a zero-crude industrial platform. By 2026, it will produce up to 230,000 tons of SAF annually, with feedstock primarily supplied by SARIA, a leader in organic material recycling.
• La Mède Biorefinery (France): Expected to deliver 15,000 tons of SAF in 2024 to airports across southern France.
• Normandy Refinery (France): Now producing SAF through coprocessing, with a capacity of 160,000 tons per year.
• Antwerp Refinery (Belgium): Began SAF coprocessing this year, initially targeting 50,000 tons annually, later scaling up to 80,000 tons.
• Leuna Refinery (Germany): A coprocessing project is scheduled to start in 2026, aiming for 50,000 tons of SAF production per year.
Strategic SAF Supply Agreements
TotalEnergies is supplying SAF to a range of aviation customers:
• Air France-KLM: A long-term agreement for up to 1.5 million tons of SAF over ten years—the company’s largest SAF contract to date.
• Volotea: A partnership extending to 2029, supporting SAF adoption at several French airports.
In addition, the company delivers SAF-blended jet fuel to multiple French airports, including Paris-Le Bourget, Toulouse, Bordeaux, and others.
Commitment to SAF Research and Development
To further accelerate aviation decarbonization, TotalEnergies has forged key R&D partnerships:
• With Airbus (since 2024), focusing on supplying over half of Airbus’s European SAF needs and conducting joint R&D into 100% SAF-compatible fuel.
• With Safran (since 2021), contributing to the development of a SAF used successfully in a military helicopter flight in 2023.
The company’s Solaize research center in Lyon plays a central role in SAF development, particularly in enhancing feedstock availability.
