Having invested in Verso Energy’s DEZiR project, Technip and its Rely joint venture with electrolyser firm John Cockerill will contribute technology and engineering measures for advancing the project toward operation by 2030.

The facility, expected to produce 80,000 tonnes of eSAF per year, was one of 13 hydrogen-based projects selected to receive a share of €2.9bn ($3.2bn) from the EU under its latest Innovation Fund round.

Rely is carrying out front-end engineering design (FEED) for the plant, while Technip will provide its Canopy carbon capture system, at industries near the site, enabling the use of captured biogenic carbon dioxide for the site’s eSAF production.

Verso has firmed up the partnership by pledging its portfolio of seven aviation fuel plants in a collaboration agreement with Rely, with eyes to optimising the replicability of the DEZiR plant and accelerating commercialisation.

The company plans to ultimately produce over 500,000 tonnes of e-fuel per year.

Arnaud Pieton, CEO of Technip Energies, said that the collaboration will encourage the development of a European e-fuels value chain, moving decarbonisation forward.

“With FEED underway, DEZiR is one of the most advanced eSAF projects in Europe. It also illustrates our approach to designing standardised and replicable projects to improve affordability and accelerate deployment.” He added.

With European aviation policy set to drive eSAF demand, e-fuel producers across the bloc have been advancing projects to position themselves as suppliers to airlines which will be mandated to ensuring at least 10% of aviation fuel comes from SAF by 2030, and up to 70% by 2050.