Haffner Energy developing SAF project at airport in Grand Est region of France

Haffner Energy announced May 16 a new sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) project: Paris-Vatry SAF.

This facility, according to Haffner Energy, is designed to meet the exponential demand for the decarbonization of air transport.

Developed with multiple public and private partners, Paris-Vatry SAF will be located at Paris-Vatry airport in the Grand Est region of France.

“This is a strategic project as it contributes to the decarbonization of aviation and reflects the green reindustrialization policy, a source of job creation, that we are collectively pursuing,” said Franck Leroy, president of the Grand Est regional council. “It offers unprecedented development prospects for the economic and industrial sovereignty of the Grand Est region and of France.”

The biofuel will be produced using Haffner Energy’s patented technological process via the thermolysis of local biomass residues. 

Département de la Marne is close to Paris and owns Paris-Vatry airport, where the project will be developed.

It is also France’s leading agricultural county in terms of useful agricultural surface (SAU), with a remarkably high level of agricultural residues.

The county has signed memorandum of understanding with Haffner Energy.

“Haffner Energy’s SAF production project is fully in line with our ambition to enhance the attractiveness of Paris-Vatry airport in order to strengthen its economic development,” said Jean-Marc Roze, president of the Marne county government. “Our airport has great potential, and the availability of sustainable aviation fuel will be a competitive advantage in attracting airlines with regular import and export flows.” 

Paris-Vatry SAF will boast an initial production capacity of 30,000 metric tons (approximately 10 million gallons) of SAF per year, with the option of doubling production to 60,000 tons.

A tripling to 90,000 tons per year could also be achieved by adding modules in a second phase of the project.

Haffner Energy said each ton of SAF amounts to 3 tons of CO2 avoided in the atmosphere, according to lifecycle analysis.

In addition, more than 3 tons of biogenic CO2 are extracted from the SAFNOCA® process.

This project will contribute to meeting regulatory obligations to decarbonize aviation in Europe.

“Several airlines have already expressed a keen interest in the SAF produced at Paris-Vatry airport, not least because of its proximity to major international airports, primarily Paris-Charles de Gaulle, but also Luxembourg and Brussels,” Haffner Energy stated. “Several industry players have expressed an interest in investing in this project.”

The proprietary SAFNOCA® technology developed by Haffner Energy—the result of its 30 years of experience—is feedstock agnostic, according to the company.

“Biomass is an abundant raw material, provided it is used in a technology process that requires no restrictive quality criteria,” Haffner Energy stated. “A sustainable and competitive SAF project requires the ability to accept all kinds of biomass without conflicts of use nor restrictions. This is where the unique positioning of SAFNOCA® technology comes into play.”

Agricultural residues with no conflicts of use will provide local farmers with a significant and stable additional income over the long term, and biomass handling and logistics will create many indirect jobs, according to the company.

In addition to the partnership with département de la Marne, the project will rely on a number of technological partnerships, including with leading engineering companies.

Haffner Energy has also forged partnerships with several biomass suppliers for agricultural and forestry residues and energy crops grown on marginal land to secure feedstock required for this project.

Paris-Vatry SAF is the first SAF project announced by Haffner Energy. 

The company said it is actively developing other SAF projects in Europe and the United States.

Current discussions on Paris-Vatry SAF also involve opportunities to replicate the project internationally, according to Haffner Energy.

“These major strategic projects are highly value-creating for the company, which is why we have created a dedicated SAF unit headed by Marcella Franchi, with Francisco Da Silva Passos in charge of SAF business development,” said Philippe Haffner, the chairman and CEO of Haffner Energy.