Thyssenkrupp Uhde selected for Elyse Energy’s biomass-to-SAF project in France

Axens announced March 19 that BioTfueL® technology has been selected for the BioTJet project by Elyse Energy and its partners Axens, Avril and IFP Energies Nouvelles.

This project will produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from end-of-life wood waste and local forestry residues with the addition of green hydrogen.

By 2029, BioTJet will supply SAF to reduce carbon intensity in air transport and eBionaphtha for road transport and biosourced chemistry.

Axens signed a license agreement for BioTfueL® technology in 2024, which includes a PrenFlo® gasification technology from Thyssenkrupp Uhde and a Gasel® technology from Axens (Fischer-Tropsch and upgrading), with basic engineering completed in November and currently in the detail-engineering phase.

The aviation industry is considered as one of the hard-to-abate sectors in the green transformation, and SAF is required by the ReFuelEU aviation regulation, starting with a 2 percent quota in 2025 and aiming for 70 percent SAF in all EU airports from 2050.

The BioTJet project is based on the eBioTfueL concept, which combines biomass eligible under the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive to produce advanced biofuels and green or low-carbon hydrogen eligible to produce renewable fuel of nonbiological origin, which are also known as eFuels.

The technology brings proven process building blocks that have been developed and tested in a semi-industrial plant from 2010 to 2021 by the Bionext consortium consisting of Avril, Axens, CEA, IFPEN, Total Energies and Thyssenkrupp Uhde.

The PrenFlo® gasification technology is part of Thyssenkrupp’s Decarbon Technologies portfolio and will contribute to the sustainable production of biomass-based synthetic products including methanol, hydrogen and SAF.

“With its origins in the Koppers-Totzek process, the PrenFlo® technology has been continuously refined to meet evolving industry needs,” Axens stated, adding that it is known for its robustness and flexibility, capable of handling a wide range of feedstocks.

“After thoroughly examining the available and bankable technologies, we are now more convinced than ever that we have made the right choice for our project with the eBioTfueL concept and the technology partners involved to provide cost-competitive SAF and naphtha to the market by 2030 and contribute to address climate change,” said Pascal Penicaud, the president of Elyse Energy.  

Nadja Håkansson, CEO of Thyssenkrupp Uhde, added, “We are proud to see how the eBioTfueL concept, which includes our advanced PrenFlo® technology, has now turned into a first commercial biomass-to-SAF application in the European community. The collaboration with our French partners underscores our commitment to driving the green transformation and delivering sustainable value to our customers and stakeholders.”

Quentin Debuisschert, CEO of Axens, said, “Axens, along with our parent company IFP Energies Nouvelles, has invested significant capital in demonstrating technologies at semi-commercial scale and advancing the energy transition, particularly in SAF processes. We are thrilled to be part of the BioTJet project, which is strategic for Axens and our longtime partner Thyssenkrupp Uhde. The BioTJet project leverages a breakthrough technology, BioTfueL®," underscoring our commitment to innovative solutions in the energy sector.”

With over 100 gasifiers successfully realized, Axens said Uhde is both a pioneer and world leader in gasification technology.

PrenFlo® is a pressurized, entrained-flow gasification technology developed and first demonstrated by ThyssenkruppUhde in the late 1980s.

It has been implemented in various large-scale projects including the world’s largest single-train, solid feedstock-based integrated gasification combined-cycle (IGCC) power plant, owned and operated by ElcoGas, located in Puertollano, Spain, and continuously developed further to the application of 100 percent biomass.

The technology uses so-called second-generation biogenic feedstocks such as waste wood, wood chips, straw, forest residues and agricultural waste.