SAF+ Consortium signs a memorandum of understanding with SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC

Schneider Electric supports SAF+ IG, an e-SAF pure player, to optimize the efficiency of its future e-fuel production sites

Paris, July 2, 2024Schneider Electric, leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, and Groupe International SAF+ (SAF+), a pure player specializing in the production and marketing of e-SAF (electro-Sustainable Aviation Fuel), announce the signing of a commercial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering the development of an optimized industrial solution to equip SAF+’s future production sites.

e-SAF, also known as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (e-CAD), is a synthetic fuel compatible with today’s aircraft supply chain, produced from green hydrogen combined with biogenic carbon dioxide (CO2). Today, e-SAF is recognized as an effective and immediate solution to help decarbonize the aeronautical sector, by reducing the carbon impact and wake effects of current and future airframes by 90% under operational conditions.

Combining industrial know-how

By signing this partnership, SAF+ and Schneider Electric are pooling their areas of expertise, respectively in e-SAF and in energy management and automation, as well as their in-depth knowledge of the green hydrogen and biogenic CO2 recovery segments.

“SAF+, an e-SAF pure player, brings together cutting-edge technical expertise in project management to provide sustainable fuel solutions for aviation. We aim to develop the production of e-SAF, a sustainable aviation fuel produced from recycled industrial CO2, water and clean energy, and compatible with existing aircraft and aviation infrastructure. We are backed by a coalition of leading international players, all drawn from the entire aviation value chain,” explains Jean Paquin, CEO of SAF+.

Present in over 100 countries, Schneider Electric uses its technologies and expertise to support industrial companies in the deployment of smart factories and in their complete digital transformation for an innovative, efficient and sustainable future. As part of the agreement, Schneider Electric will provide SAF+ and its partners with its expertise in automation, process instrumentation, gas analysis and energy distribution solutions.

The two partners will work together to design a digital twin solution. This will enable the modelling and simulation of digital processes for e-fuel production, energy control (EcostruXure Power and Process), process control (EcoStruxure Foxboro DCS) and CO2 and hydrogen storage. The solutions implemented call on industrial processes and digital skills, both for energy management and process control. Schneider Electric will design solutions based on AVEVA software suites that will be reproducible in future installations.

“Schneider Electric supports its industrial customers in their digital transformation to achieve their productivity and efficiency goals, as well as their climate and environmental objectives,” says Aymeric Renaud, Vice-President Industrial Automation & End Users at Schneider Electric France. Our partnership with SAF+ is fully in line with this strategy, enabling us to support the energy transition in the aeronautical sector, while providing a concrete industrial application for the production of green hydrogen.”

First steps in France

This partnership is initiated by a first project in France. The solution will be powered by local renewable energies. It will validate the technical and economic reproducibility of the process on other e-SAF refinery sites in France, Europe and North America.

About SAF+ International

SAF+IG, world leader in the production and marketing of e-SAF, offers a sustainable and exceptional solution for decarbonizing the aviation sector. The e-SAF is one of the only immediate and effective options available to the industry to achieve zero emissions by 2050. SAF+IG has a state-of-the-art pilot plant in Montreal, where it has demonstrated its expertise and e-SAF production capabilities. The company is currently developing a world-scale commercial project in Quebec, while establishing international partnerships to meet growing demand.