Axens 
The BioTJet project aims at building and operating France’s first e-biofuel commercial plant for the aviation sector.
The BioTJet project leverages the BioTfueL® process, which produces advanced biokerosene from biomass consisting of residues mainly from local forestry resources and end-of-life wood waste. It combines biomass production with low-carbon hydrogen injection to optimise the biomass-to-fuel yield.
Led by Elyse Energy, the BioTJet project aims at building and operating France’s first commercial plant for advanced biokerosene production, based on sustainable biomass, consisting of residues mainly from local forestry resources and end-of-life wood waste.
The BioTJet project aims at providing by 2027 air transport operators with a sustainable e-biokerosene volume equivalent to 30% of the annual consumption of Bordeaux Mérignac airport, and derivatives for shipping and road transport as well as for chemical industry.
The BioTJet project company was officially structured in December 2022. Five shareholders confirmed their participation in the Board of directors: Elyse Energy, Avril, Axens, Bionext and IFP Investissements (investment subsidiary of IFP Energies Nouvelles). At the end of this transaction, Elyse Energy will hold more than two-thirds of the capital, the main partners Avril, Axens and IFPI sharing the balance evenly.
Sélectionner
Founded in 1983 on the initiative of the agricultural world, Avril is a key industrial and financial player in the French vegetable oil and protein sector, operating in 19 countries.
The Axens Group provides a comprehensive range of solutions for the conversion of petroleum and biomass into cleaner fuels, the production and purification of major petrochemical intermediates, the chemical recycling of plastics, natural gas processing and conversion options, water treatment and carbon capture.
BioneXt was founded in 2010 by the six partners of the BioTfueL R&I project: Avril, Axens, CEA, IFP Energies Nouvelles, TotalEnergies and ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions. For 10 years, Bionext coordinated the BioTfueL R&I project and managed the expertise contributed by its six partners and shareholders.
IFP Investissements is the investment subsidiary of IFP Energies Nouvelles. IFP Energies Nouvelles (IFPEN) is a major player in research and training in the fields of energy, transport, and the environment.
The BioTJet project leverages the BioTfueL® process. This process was tested, validated and optimised as part of the eponymous project led from 2010 to 2021 by a consortium comprising BioNext, Avril, Axens, CEA, IFP Energies Nouvelles, TotalEnergies and ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions.
The option of injecting green hydrogen produced by means of water electrolysis is also being considered. For an equivalent amount of biomass, the addition of hydrogen in the process would double fuel production and contribute to effectively and rapidly developing the indirect use of hydrogen for the aviation sector of tomorrow.
The use of BioTJet advanced e-biokerosene will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 70% over its life cycle compared with conventional kerosene. The project should create hundreds of permanent and local jobs, essentially in the wood industry, but also on the production site.
In keeping with the French roadmap for the deployment of sustainable aviation fuels, the national low-carbon strategy, and the EU regulatory announcements of the “Fit-for-55” and ReFuelEU Aviation packages, BioTJet will finally help meet the requirements in terms of replacing kerosene with sustainable aviation fuels made in France.
As a result, the BioTJet project received support from ADEME as part of the 4th Programme d’Investissements d’Avenir – France 2030 (Investing in the Future programme) via the Call for Projects for the “Development of a French sustainable aviation fuel production industry”. A final investment decision is expected at the end of 2024 for start-up by 2027.
