Safran and TotalEnergies have signed a strategic partnership agreement to jointly develop technical and commercial solutions for decarbonization of aviation industry.
28 September 2021: Safran and TotalEnergies have signed a strategic partnership to jointly develop technical and commercial solutions for decarbonization of the aviation industry. In line with the ambition of both companies to reach net zero CO2 emission by 2050, this partnership will work to accelerate the reduction of the CO2 emissions of the aviation industry. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plays a key role in this approach.
The collaboration will leverage Safran and TotalEnergies’ respective areas of excellence and expertise for the development and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels and develop an informed understanding of the overall value chain and use cases, while integrating the objectives of sustainable development altogether.
Olivier Andriès, Chief Executive Officer of Safran said, “I welcome this agreement, which is fully in line with Safran’s strategic priority to decarbonize aviation. Our ambition is to develop breakthrough technologies for ultra-efficient engines that are 20% more fuel-efficient than the current LEAP engine and 100 percent compatible with sustainable fuels. This cooperation with TotalEnergies demonstrates our commitment to limiting our environmental footprint, contributing to carbon neutrality in the aviation industry, and preserving a mode of transportation that delivers essential economic, social and cultural benefits.”
The partnership will aim to focus on the areas of research, technology and innovation with the development of technological bricks validated through ground tests of propulsion systems and demonstrator flight tests of engines. Along with R & D the TotalEnergies will focus on supply of SAF produced in France to decarbonize Safran’s airplane and helicopter engine tests in France.
Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TotalEnergies said, “We are pleased to join forces with Safran to help meet the challenge of decarbonizing the aviation industry together. This strategic alliance will contribute to the emergence of a French value chain for sustainable aviation fuel and electric aircraft. TotalEnergies is resolutely committed to reducing its own carbon emissions and to supporting its customers in their reduction efforts by offering innovative, tailored solutions. We believe that cooperation among all aviation industry players is needed to achieve the objectives of the energy transition to reach carbon neutrality.”
The partnership aims to make current engines compatible with fuel containing up to 100 percent SAF. It will then work to optimize engine/fuel energy efficiency and environmental performance. This collaboration may extend to other fields, such as adapting fuel systems to SAF or developing new-generation battery systems for electric motors.
Sustainable aviation fuels are an immediately available solution for significantly reducing CO2 emissions from air transportation, as they can be used in blends of up to 50 per cent as of today without modifying existing supply chain infrastructure, aircraft or engines. Safran is a key player in projects that will allow the use of 100 per cent SAF in existing aircraft.
