Technip Energies, Airbus, Safran, and Tereos partner on French sustainable aviation fuel hub

Four French industrial companies Technip Energies, Airbus, Safran, and agricultural processor Tereos have formed an alliance to build a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supply chain in France. The partnership aims to turn local crops like sugar beets and cereals into low-carbon jet fuel that can be blended with conventional kerosene. This is a direct response to European Union blending mandates that require airlines to use increasing shares of SAF on flights departing from EU airports. The collaboration brings together expertise in aircraft design, engine technology, process engineering, and feedstock supply. Airbus and Safran need certified SAF to meet their own decarbonization targets, while Technip Energies provides the conversion technology and Tereos supplies agricultural inputs. The goal is to de-risk investment in new production plants and keep the economic value of SAF production within France. Aviation is one of the hardest sectors to decarbonize, especially for long-haul flights. SAF can be used in existing aircraft and infrastructure, making it a practical near-term solution. However, production costs remain high and global supply is still tiny compared to total jet fuel demand. This French hub is part of a broader European push to scale up SAF capacity ahead of tighter regulatory deadlines.