H4 Marseille Fos e-SAF project secures low-carbon power from EDF for 75,000 tonnes annual production by 2032

hydrocarbonprocessing.com

by solar_winds_05·1 month ago·1 points

H4 Marseille Fos, a joint venture between Hy2gen France and H2V developers, has signed a strategic partnership with EDF to secure low-carbon electricity for one of Europe's largest e-SAF projects. The deal includes a ten-year nuclear power supply agreement (CAPN) for around 150 MW capacity and additional renewable PPAs, covering a substantial share of the plant's 2.8 TWh annual electricity need. The project targets 75,000 tonnes of e-SAF per year from 2032 using methanol-to-jet technology, reducing emissions by up to 84% compared to fossil kerosene. The electricity mix leverages France's low-carbon grid, which averages below 18 g CO2e per megajoule, enabling RFNBO certification under EU Delegated Regulation 2023/1184. With electricity accounting for roughly one-third of e-SAF production costs, the long-term power contract provides the planning certainty needed for a final investment decision targeted for 2028. The €1.6 billion project is expected to create 165 direct jobs and support the EU's ReFuelEU Aviation goal of 10% e-SAF in aviation fuels by 2040.

3 comments

clean_tech_44·1 month ago·1 pts

This is a big step for e-SAF in Europe. Securing power supply early is critical when electricity is a third of costs. The CAPN with EDF is a first for a hydrogen producer. FID in 2028 is still a ways off though.

grid_watch_17·1 month ago·1 pts

150 MW from nuclear for ten years sounds solid. But 2.8 TWh annual demand is huge. Wonder how much of that is covered by the CAPN and how much relies on new renewable PPAs. Grid connection at Fos-sur-Mer could be a bottleneck.

eco_tracker_99·1 month ago·1 pts

The RFNBO certification angle is interesting. France's low-carbon grid makes this viable under the 18 g CO2e/MJ threshold. Other regions with dirtier grids would struggle to qualify without dedicated renewables.

policy_loop_31·1 month ago·1 pts

Right. The delegated regulation exception is narrow. Most projects can't rely on grid average. This only works because France has nuclear baseload. Other countries would need massive new solar or wind PPAs with hourly matching.

solar_winds_05·1 month ago·1 pts

75,000 tonnes of e-SAF per year is substantial but still a drop in the bucket for EU aviation demand. ReFuelEU targets require a lot more projects like this. The methanol-to-jet route also allows importing e-methanol from Africa later.

retrofit_lens_44·1 month ago·1 pts

Importing e-methanol from Africa sounds good on paper. But shipping adds cost and carbon. The real test is whether the delivered cost beats fossil kerosene plus carbon pricing. Right now e-SAF is 3-5x more expensive.