Technip Energies, Airbus, Safran and Tereos have agreed to create Rebound, a joint venture aimed at building one of Europe’s largest Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production facilities at the Port of Dunkirk in northern France.
The planned plant will use the Alcohol-to-Jet (AtJ) pathway to produce around 160,000 tons of SAF per year, positioning it as a major industrial bet on scaling low-carbon aviation fuel in Europe and strengthening regional energy independence.
At the heart of the initiative is a full-chain industrial setup: from agricultural and forestry-based ethanol feedstocks through to aviation fuel used in existing aircraft engines without modification.
Under the European Union’s RefuelEU Aviation regulation, SAF demand is set to surge sharply, with blending mandates rising to 6% by 2030 and 70% by 2050, driving what the partners describe as an eightfold increase in demand between 2030 and 2050.
The joint venture has already secured a key early milestone: the Port of Dunkirk awarded Technip Energies an industrial site in northern France, offering strong logistics advantages and a smoother permitting pathway once the venture is formally completed.
The partners will now move into a staged development process covering technology selection, pre-FEED and FEED engineering work, permitting, feedstock and offtake agreements, and financing ahead of a final investment decision.
Rebound remains subject to customary approvals and is expected to be finalised in the second half of the year.
Benjamin Lechuga, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer of Technip Energies, commented: “Sustainable Aviation Fuel is one of the most critical levers to decarbonise aviation, and the Alcohol-to-Jet pathway offers a credible, scalable route to get there.
"With Rebound, we are putting into practice our strategy to capture greater value through adjacent business models, originating and developing projects in fast-growing energy transition markets alongside recognised industry leaders such as Airbus, Safran and Tereos. We look forward to advancing this project with the engineering rigor and disciplined execution that define Technip Energies.”
Julie Kitcher, Chief Sustainability Officer and Communications of Airbus,stated: “The Rebound project is a vote of confidence in SAF and in Europe's ability to be a leader in the journey to decarbonise aviation. With renewable energy facing global headwinds, Airbus will work with our partners to open up an abundant new SAF pathway, Alcohol-to-Jet fuel, in France.
"This project aims to increase the availability of lower-carbon fuels, contribute to reducing aviation emissions and strengthen Europe’s energy supply security, while creating a new job market. I am delighted that Airbus is a partner in the Rebound project, which is a vital step forward for the SAF ecosystem in Europe.”
Nathalie Stubler, Chief Sustainability Officer of Safran, commented: “Developing Sustainable Aviation Fuel at scale is essential for decarbonising air transport. This ambitious project brings together leading French and European expertise, supporting the emergence of a competitive SAF industry.
"By joining forces with our partners, Safran reaffirms its commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility, fully aligned with our strategy to reduce CO₂ emissions and support the energy transition in aviation. This commitment is reflected in our investments, through Safran Corporate Ventures, in the development of sustainable solutions for the aviation industry of tomorrow.”
Jérôme Bos, Chief Strategy Officer of Tereos, declared: “We are delighted to contribute, through Rebound, to the emergence of the Alcohol-to-Jet industry in France, supporting the decarbonization of the aviation sector. This project is fully aligned with Tereos’ mission to develop low-carbon industrial value chains by creating value from agricultural production.
"Tereos will bring to the project its expertise and industrial assets dedicated to the production of advanced ethanol. It also provides a strong illustration of the development of a bioeconomy rooted in French and European agricultural production."
