Global Bioenergies confirms isobutene to SAF project
Global Bioenergies announced that it has finalised plans to develop biobased isobutene plant in France which will produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in addition to producing cosmetic products.
The finalisation of the basic engineering design, concurrent with the signing of the first tranche of financing for the plant, is expected in summer 2024.
This first tranche will include part of the €16.4m financing awarded by Bpifrance as part of the France 2030 plan.
Once completed, the front end engineering design (FEED) will be carried out in order to finalise preparation for the construction of the plant which will take place between 2025 and 2027 on the French territory.
“The project, already supported by the French government through a €16.4m financing, is progressing well and is taken care of by two engineering companies, each specialised in one of these two fields,” said Roland Desvignes, Industrial Director, Global Bioenergies.
The plant will kick-start SAF production, a market for which Global Bioenergies obtained ASTM certification last June and will open the door to the construction of multiple larger SAF plants.
The group recently initiated a plan to develop another production site, dimensioned at several tens of thousand tons specifically dedicated to SAF, with commissioning forecasted in 2030, at the time the European mandate expands to 6% SAF in all planes taking off from European airports.
Earlier in June 2023, the received certification by ASTM International for SAF production technology. The certification allows Global Bioenergies’ fuel to be blended up to 50% with fossil kerosene in existing airplanes.