Holcim, EDF, IFPEN and AXENS to convert CO₂ into synthetic aviation fuel, with support of Air France-KLM

• Holcim to join “Take Kair” project with its Saint-Pierre-La-Cour plant
• Use of e-kerosene will avoid 100,000 tons of CO₂ per year
• Contributes to the decarbonization of France’s aviation industry

Holcim, EDF, IFPEN ("Institut Français du Pétrole et des Energies Nouvelles") and Axens are joining forces to develop e-kerosene that will contribute to decarbonize France’s aviation industry. Holcim will join “Take Kair” project with its cement plant in Saint-Pierre-La-Cour, where it will capture biogenic CO₂; IPFEN and its affiliate Axens will provide the technology for the synthesis; EDF will turn the CO₂ into e-kerosene, a synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (e-SAF). As a partner, Air France-KLM will be the main buyer of the e-kerosene produced by this new industrial activity.

Miljan Gutovic, Region Head for Europe, Holcim: “Holcim is becoming a net-zero company, with 1.5°C-aligned targets scientifically validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Next generation technologies, such as carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) will play a key role in enabling a net-zero future. Their development requires robust partnerships across the value chain, from public authorities to companies from different industries. ‘Take Kair’ is a good example of how we can all join forces to decarbonize a sector like aviation for a more sustainable future”.

Holcim is scoping over 50 CCUS projects around the world, 11 of which are flagship projects, based on mature technologies and strong partnerships. By 2030 Holcim is committed to investing CHF 2 billion in CCUS and capturing more than 5 million tons of CO₂ annually. Holcim’s projects range from carbon capture and storage to utilization, including mineralization to produce low-carbon cement, all the way to using it as a greenhouse gas for farming or feedstock for other industries.

“Take Kair” is one of the first industrial projects of its kind in France. Once operational, it will avoid over 100,000 tons of CO₂ emissions per year, in line with the French government's targets for decarbonizing air transport, to anticipate the upcoming European "ReFuel Aviation" regulation.