Airbusm and
TotalEnergies have signed a strategic partnership to address the challenges of decarbonising aviation through sustainable aviation fuels. In-line with the objective of achieving net carbon neutrality of aviation by 2050, this partnership aims to contribute to the reduction of the sector's CO
2 emissions, in which sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) play a key role. SAF supplied by TotalEnergies can reduce up to 90% CO
2 emissions over their lifecycle compared to their fossil fuel equivalent.
The partnership will cover two main areas: the supply by TotalEnergies of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) for more than half of Airbus' needs in Europe; a research and innovation programme aimed at developing 100% SAFs tailored to the design of current and future aircraft. The impact of the composition of SAFs on the reduction of CO
2 emissions and non-CO
2 effects, such as contrails, will also be studied.
Airbus and TotalEnergies have confirmed their common ambition to promote SAF technology and to strengthen their collaboration to decarbonise the aviation industry — TotalEnergies has been supplying the SAF used by Airbus for its aircraft deliveries in Toulouse since 2016.
TotalEnergies has also supplied the fuel for several first SAF flights with Airbus aircraft, including: the first long-haul flight using French-produced SAF with an A350 between Paris and Montreal in May 2021; the first flight of a H225 helicopter, from the ‘Super Puma’ family, using 100% SAF in November 2021; and the first A321neo flight with 100% SAF in March 2023.
Patrick Pouyanné, TotalEnergies chairman and CEO, said: “The development of SAFs is at the heart of our company's transition strategy. We are happy to form a strategic alliance with Airbus to play our part in meeting the challenge of aviation decarbonisation together. TotalEnergies has been working hard to respond to the sector’s new demand for a reduced carbon footprint. Our company has set itself a target of 1.5 million tons of annual SAF production by 2030.”
Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said: “Accelerating the deployment of SAFs is essential if we are to meet our targets for reducing carbon emissions from aviation by 2030. This partnership between Airbus and TotalEnergies demonstrates the willingness of aerospace manufacturers and major energy producers and suppliers to work together to meet this challenge. We are determined to meet our decarbonisation targets and ensure that aviation can continue to play its valuable role for society into the future.”