Rely has been awarded a contract to assist H4 Marseille Fos in early engineering studies for a landmark sustainable aviation fuel (e-SAF) production project in Fos-sur-Mer, Bouches du Rhône, France. The initiative aims to position the industrial-port zone as a European hub for hydrogen and e-SAF production, supporting France's and Europe's decarbonization ambitions.

Project Specifications and Timeline

The facility will produce 75,000 tons of e-SAF annually from green hydrogen generated by 300MW water electrolyzers and captured CO2. First production is expected in 2030. The project exemplifies a significant step toward reindustrializing France in line with Europe's ambition for sustainable aviation. A key aspect of this project involves the methanol-to-jet fuel synthesis pathway, which offers a route for decarbonizing aviation.

Methanol, produced from green hydrogen and captured carbon, will be converted into high-quality jet fuel, providing a scalable solution that can be used without modifying aircraft.

European Regulatory Alignment

The project aligns with European objectives to incorporate 10% e-SAF into aviation fuels by 2040, as outlined in the ReFuelEU Aviation regulation. This initiative underscores France and Europe's commitment to a cleaner, more competitive aviation sector. Following early-stage engineering studies, the project demonstrates Rely's leadership in integrating electrolysis and gas-to-liquid technologies.

The studies will also integrate technological providers for CO2-to-methanol and methanol-to-jet technologies. The studies conducted will pave the way and accelerate the process for a potential FEED study.

Strategic Location and Support Network

H4 Marseille Fos is considered the leading e-SAF project in the Mediterranean area. Its connection to the European pipeline network makes it an ideal location to serve Southern and Eastern France, as well as the Mediterranean basin and airports in the rest of Europe. H4 Marseille Fos is strongly supported at the regional level as a lever for the decarbonization of local industry.

The collaboration between Rely and H4 Marseille Fos, through its parent companies H2V and Hy2gen, is envisioned to support a sustainable and competitive aviation fuel supply chain, leveraging partnerships as catalysts for the development of green hydrogen and its derivatives. The initiative is supported by Région Sud, Marseille Provence Airport, and Vinci Airports, exemplifying a collaborative ecosystem approach to innovation and sustainability in aviation.

Executive Statements

Damien Eyriès, CEO of Rely, stated: “This project marks a strategic milestone for Rely, reinforcing our position as a leading expert in e-SAF and hydrogen solutions and showcasing our innovative efforts to deliver and de-risk the energy transition in Europe. Leveraging our engineering expertise and our standardization approach, we are committed to advancing this landmark project towards next development stages, therefore with the aim of accelerating its Final Investment Decision.”

Alexis Martinez of H4 Marseille Fos stated: “This agreement is materializing the structured and robust process of project development implemented by H4 Marseille Fos with major technical players of the sector. Appointing Rely to lead the technical feasibility study of our iconic project marks an important milestone in our development. Their recognized expertise will help us secure the technical choices and move forward with confidence toward the implementation of this strategic project.”

The engineering studies will solidify plant definition and support permitting for the project. Rely brings a strong track record and foundation of technological excellence and project execution capability, ensuring the delivery of state-of-the-art solutions.

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