- TotalEnergies, Groupe ADP and the Fédération Française Aéronautique (FFA) have agreed to install charging stations for electric aircraft at three airfields in the Ile-de-France region to support the decarbonization of the aviation industry, and in particular the electrification of light aviation.
- The partnership involves a first phase of installation of four electric charging stations in the spring, which will be set up at Toussus-le-Noble, Etampes and Pontoise aeronautical platforms managed by Groupe ADP. This solution is also a way to drastically reduce noise pollution on the platforms.
These "self-service" terminals will facilitate the first navigations of pilots between two airfields, and allow aircraft based on site to recharge easily and quickly in one hour.
For Groupe ADP, "this initiative is fully in line with Groupe ADP's desire to make Ile de France airfields the laboratories of the future sustainable aviation, while already providing concrete support for the electrification of light aircraft fleets, thanks to the deployment of new electric terminals, and of all ground operations. At all our airports, we are supporting the integration of clean energies to decarbonize aviation, including electrification, sustainable fuels and, in the future, hydrogen," said Edward Arkwright, Deputy CEO of Groupe ADP.
"The FFA has already taken numerous actions to promote the development of electric aviation in France, through its Fab Lab located at Toussus le Noble airfield, by proposing concrete solutions to enable the operation of electric aircraft, particularly from Pipistrel, the only manufacturer in the world with a certified aircraft at the time of signing this agreement. The installation of these dedicated charging stations will allow the first navigations necessary to obtain the PPL and thus to go beyond the perimeter of the local flight ", declares Jean-Luc Charron, President of the FFA.
As with the challenges of charging point networks in the automotive sector, TotalEnergies' objective is to facilitate and accelerate the deployment of electric aviation in France, initially by adapting airport infrastructures. TotalEnergies is bringing its expertise in the implementation of electric charging solutions and in the supply of low-carbon electricity to support its customers in their transformation. The charging stations will be operated by TotalEnergies.
"As a multi-energy company, our role is to provide our customers with solutions to help them meet their energy transition challenges. These first electric charging stations in France are a first step before a larger-scale deployment in France and Europe. The development of low-carbon electricity supply for electric aviation, which is an important factor in the decarbonization of this mode of transport, is in line with TotalEnergies' ambition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, together with society", says Thierry Pflimlin, Executive Vice President Marketing & Services of TotalEnergies.
