RENEWABLE ENERGIES SERVING THE ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSITION
A pioneer in biodiesel with Diester® in the 1990s, Avril is now the leader in B100 with Oleo100. Its objective? Contribute to the environmental transition by replacing fossil energies with biosourced solutions that solve part of the carbon equation.
Avril Oilseed Processing and Renewable Energies includes the Group’s historical seed crushing activities, as well as the production of oilseed meal, refined oils, and biofuels, through Saipol in France and Expur in Romania.
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-60%
reduction in CO2 emissions with Oleo100 compared to diesel
BIOFUELS, A SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE
The production of biodiesel, an alternative fuel to diesel, is one of Avril’s core businesses. Its subsidiaries Expur and Saipol transform the oils obtained by crushing rapeseed and sunflower seeds into biofuel. The physical and chemical characteristics of biofuel are very similar to those of fossil fuels, with one major advantage: it reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
By producing biofuel from rapeseed and sunflower seeds, Avril also co-produces vegetable protein in the form of oilcake, which is used to feed livestock in the region. In this way, the Group contributes to the fight against imported deforestation and acts in two ways in favor of the environmental transition.
FROM DIESTER® TO OLEO100, INNOVATIVE AND EFFICIENT INITIATIVES
A pioneer in the sector, Avril has been marketing Diester®, a biodiesel produced from rapeseed ester, since the early 1990s. Today, 7% of Diester® is incorporated into the diesel fuel of all diesel vehicles in France.
1 liter of Diester® = 1.6 kg of oil cake
To provide a concrete response to the challenge of sustainable mobility, Avril has developed the Oleo100 solution. This fuel is B100 because it can be entirely substituted for diesel.
Oleo100 is a 100% vegetable, renewable and traced energy. This biofuel enhances the value of the French rapeseed industry and creates value in the regions, by diversifying the outlets of nearly 7,000 – 10,000 rapeseed farmers.
Oleo100 has developed partnerships with leading truck manufacturers, including Scania, Renault Trucks, Man and Volvo. The advantage: a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions from captive fleets, and up to 80% reduction in fine particle emissions, at a cost similar to that of diesel fuel.
Subsidiaries involved in this activity:
TOMORROW, BIOFUELS FOR ALL FORMS OF MOBILITY
Avril provides solutions for sustainable mobility and to diversity the energy mix. The Group is conducting experiments in the river, rail and air sectors.
CFT
The CFT (Compagnie Fluviale de Transport) subsidiary of the Sogestran Group, a leader in specialized river transport, is the first river carrier to navigate with Oleo100. This first river experiment took place in May 2021. While waiting for the final results, a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions and up to 80% reduction in fine particle emissions could be observed on the road trucks, in addition to allowing a commitment to the local economy thanks to a French origin rapeseed. This type of initiative shows how Saipol is able to develop outlets with new transport players, and thus offer them the possibility of reducing their CO2 and fine particle emissions.
Europorte
Avril via Saipol has signed an agreement with Europorte, Getlink’s rail freight subsidiary, for an experiment to use Oleo100 in commercial service. A test was carried out under real conditions in July 2021 on the rail traffic generated by Saipol for the transport of vegetable oils and renewable energies on the lines linking Nogent-sur-Seine and Dunkirk as well as Nogent-sur-Seine and Sotteville-lès-Rouen.
The aim is to replace some of the non-road diesel used by Europorte’s thermal locomotives on non-electrified sections with Oleo100. In the context of an experimental route of approximately 1,500 km per week, it is estimated that 35 tons of CO2 will be avoided on a weekly basis by the locomotive that will operate this traffic.
Europorte will thus become the first private rail freight operator to use this alternative in real conditions.
SNCF and the Normandy Region
The Normandy Region and SNCF Voyageurs have put their trust in Saipol, through its Oleo100 brand, to implement more sustainable mobility within the region.
Since April 2021, trains on the Paris-Granville line have been running exclusively on B100, a 100% colza biofuel. This is a major first in France : this line has become the first passenger transport line to run exclusively on biofuels.
In January 2023, it was estimated that this had avoided the release of 11,000 tons of CO2.
Avril is also involved in research programs on “second generation” advanced biofuels, derived from biomass and made up of agricultural and forestry residues. From 2010 to 2021, launched in partnership with Axens, CEA, IFP Énergies nouvelles, Thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions and TOTAL Energies the BioTfueL project has transformed the first 3200 tons of plants into fuel. This solution is now ready to be deployed more widely, particularly in the aeronautical sector.