French engineer Technip Energies said Tuesday it has entered into an agreement with Airbus, Safran and Tereos to create Rebound, a joint venture to develop a sustainable aviation fuel production facility at the Port of Dunkirk in northern France.
The project will use alcohol-to-jet technology to convert advanced ethanol derived from agricultural and forestry residues into sustainable aviation fuel.
Once operational, it targets an annual output of 160,000 metric tonnes, with the facility set to be among the largest of its kind in Europe.
Under the agreement, the four companies will fund the project's development phase, including engineering studies and other work needed to support a future final investment decision.
Technip Energies will serve as lead developer and engineering provider, while Airbus and Safran will participate as industrial partners and potential SAF offtakers. Tereos, one of Europe's largest ethanol producers, intends to supply advanced ethanol feedstock for the project.
The Port of Dunkirk has already awarded Technip Energies an industrial site, marking a key milestone for the project, with the region set to offer strong logistical efficiencies for feedstock and product transportation, alongside quicker permitting.
Benjamin Lechuga, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer of Technip Energies said sustainable aviation fuel is "one of the most critical levers" to decarbonize aviation, while the "Alcohol-to-Jet pathway" is a scalable and credible route to get there.