SAF+ International Group<\/a><\/strong> has selected California-based Captura<\/a><\/strong> as its CO2 supplier for a planned eSAF production facility at the Port of Port-La-Nouvelle<\/a> in France. The facility is targeting annual production of 75,000 tonnes of eSAF by combining green hydrogen with CO2 pulled directly from seawater.<\/p>\n\n\n The project was formally announced at the Hyvolution Paris 2026<\/a> trade show and is designed to help airlines comply with RefuelEU<\/a>, the EU regulation that mandates increasing SAF blends starting in 2025, with eSAF-specific requirements kicking in by 2030. The fuel would carry roughly a 90% reduction in emissions compared to conventional kerosene and is certified under ASTM D7566 and FT-SPK standards, making it a drop-in-ready option for existing aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most eSAF projects rely on CO2 from industrial emitters or direct air capture. This one draws from the ocean. Captura’s direct ocean capture (DOC) technology works by pulling seawater, removing its dissolved CO2, and returning the treated water, which then absorbs more carbon from the atmosphere. The system runs on electricity and requires no chemical inputs or waste disposal, an advantage when scaling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The company validated its DOC technology through a year-long joint qualification program with Equinor at a 1,000-tonne-per-year pilot facility in Kona, Hawaii, testing performance across 20 critical metrics including CO2 removal efficiency, safety, and monitoring and verification.<\/p>\n\n\n “2030 is just around the corner! Following Hyvolution, it is thanks to our local partners that we are bringing our commitment to life in France with a site in Port-la-Nouvelle that combines innovation, industrial performance, and local impact,” said Pierre Gonthier, CEO of SAF+ International Group<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The project brings together a broad coalition of industrial and energy players: BBA Consultants<\/a>, Schneider Electric<\/a>, Topsoe<\/a>, Sasol<\/a>, and port operator SEMOP Port La Nouvelle<\/a>, alongside an unnamed airline partner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hans Kerstens, CEO of SEMOP Port La Nouvelle<\/strong>, said the project “aligns directly with the port’s development strategy” and its ambition to become a reference industrial port for the energy transition. Port-La-Nouvelle was chosen for its logistics infrastructure and proximity to an established industrial cluster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Canadian Embassy in France also weighed in, describing the collaboration as a reflection of shared commitments between the two countries toward a low-carbon industrial economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aviation is one of the harder sectors to decarbonize. Battery-electric aircraft remain years away for commercial long-haul use, and biofuels face feedstock limitations at scale. eSAF addresses both constraints by using renewable electricity, green hydrogen, and captured CO2 to produce a synthetic fuel that works in today’s planes with no infrastructure changes required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The RefuelEU mandate creates a firm regulatory pull. Airlines operating within the EU will need to blend a set percentage of SAF starting in 2025, with the eSAF-specific share growing from 2030 onward. Projects like the Port-La-Nouvelle facility are being positioned to meet that demand before the deadline arrives.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Makes This Project Different<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Direct Ocean Capture as a CO2 Source<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A Deep Partner Network<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Why eSAF, and Why Now<\/h3>\n\n\n\n