Skip to main content

Sulphur 418 May-Jun 2025

Uhde gasification selected for biomass-to-SAF project in France


FRANCE

Uhde gasification selected for biomass-to-SAF project in France

thyssenkrupp Uhde’s BioTfueL® technology has been selected for the BioTJet project by Elyse Energy and its partners (Axens, Avril, IFPEN). This project will produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from end-of-life wood waste and local forestry residues. together with the addition of green hydrogen. By 2029, BioTJet will supply sustainable aviation fuel to reduce carbon intensity in air transport, and e-bio-naphtha for road transport and bio-sourced chemistry. Axens signed a license agreement for BioTfueL® technology in 2024, which includes PRENFLO® gasification technology from thyssenkrupp Uhde and GASEL® Fischer-Tropsch and upgrading technology from Axens. 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.

Basic engineering on the project was completed in November 2024 and the project is currently in the detailed engineering phase. Aviation fuels are required by the ReFuelEU Aviation regulations to have a 2% sustainable quota in 2025 and to include 70% SAF in all EU airports from 2050.

Pascal Penicaud, president of Elyse Energy said: “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 E-BioTfueL concept and the technology partners involved to provide cost-competitive SAF and naphtha to the market by 2030 and contribute to address climate change.”

Nadja Håkansson, CEO of thyssenkrupp Uhde added: “We are proud to see how the E-BioTfueL 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.”

Latest in Commodity

Desulphurisation unit installed at Luján refinery

YPF says that its modernisation of the Luján de Cuyo refinery has taken a step forward with the installation of a hydrodesulphurisation reactor, designed to remove sulphur compounds from diesel fuel by means of a catalytic process using hydrogen. The installation forms part of the refinery’s New Fuel Specifications (NEC) project, intended to produce of fuels with a lower environmental impact. The new reactor was built in Mendoza by IMPSA. With a length of 38 meters and a weight of 456 tons, it was moved from Godoy Cruz to the YPF plant in a logistic operation that involved Vialidad Nacional, Mendoza Police and local authorities. It will now be integrated into the HDS II unit, designed to reduce sulphur content in diesel to 10 parts per million, in line with current environmental requirements. The NEC plan includes new process units, such as H2 II and SE33, the adaptation of existing facilities and the improvement of auxiliary services. The project, already 85% complete, will allow all the diesel oil produced in Luján de Cuyo to comply with the highest emission requirements.