The project

Tackle the climate emergency with cleaner fuel

Currently responsible for 3% of greenhouse gas emissions, the aviation sector needs solutions to decarbonize swiftly.

Sustainable aviation fuels are one of the key levers in this decarbonization process. They are non-fossil fuels, and are divided into several categories: biofuels (produced from biological sources such as biomass), and e-fuels, produced from electricity.

FRANCE KEREAUZEN anticipates two European regulatory obligations of 2023, applicable as soon as 2030:

  • The RED III directive calls for 42.5% renewable energies in general consumption by 2030, including 14.5% in transport and 5.5% in aviation.
  • The ReFuelEU Aviation regulation calls for a minimum rate of sustainable aviation fuel from 2025 (2%) and sustainable aviation e-fuels from 2030 (1.2%). By 2050, these requirements will rise to 70% and 35% respectively.

ENGIE, the project sponsor

ENGIE is a leading French industrial group in the energy transition and the production of renewable and low-carbon energies. Its 96,000 employees are committed every day to accelerating the transition to a low-carbon world through energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly solutions.

In 2023, ENGIE won HAROPA PORT’s “Grand Canal du Havre” tender to develop FRANCE KEREAUZEN. It will be located on the site of a former cement plant, creating the first platform for the production of renewable, low-carbon air transport fuel.

For further information, visit engie.com.

Key features of the project

FRANCE KEREAUZEN will be producing a sustainable fuel for air transport, based on renewable electricity, hydrogen and CO2. Its carbon footprint will be over 80% lower than that of fossil kerosene.

A circular economy approach

FRANCE KEREAUZEN is part of a local circular economy approach: every year, it will recycle 290,000 tonnes of CO2 from the Le Havre industrial basin.

Hydrogen and waste heat will also be exchanged with local manufacturers.

In addition, ENGIE will reuse numerous existing infrastructures to minimize the project’s carbon footprint: rail, roads, Trapil pipelines and electricity.

The timetable

3D view of the site