Verso Energy and Rayonnier Advanced Materials (RYAM) signed the Innovation Fund grant agreement with the European Commission for the ReSTart project (Renewable e-SAF Tartas). The project is to produce synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (e-SAF), located in the municipality of Tartas, France.

The facility plans to combine several processes on a single site: capture of biogenic CO2 emitted by RYAM's specialty cellulose plant, water electrolysis using renewable and low-carbon electricity, e-methanol synthesis, and conversion to e-kerosene via the methanol-to-jet (MtJ) process. RYAM's participation in the consortium secures the supply of biogenic CO2 — a key feedstock for e-SAF production. The funding agreement was formalised with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), which implements the Innovation Fund programme on behalf of the European Union.

ReSTart draws on the plant concept developed for the DEZiR project, by Verso Energy in Normandy, which is also an Innovation Fund laureate. FEED (Front-End Engineering Design) studies for this concept have been conducted by Rely, a joint venture between Technip Energies and John Cockerill, since late 2025. The scale-up of industrial electrolysis is a cross-cutting challenge for these sectors; ITM Power secured $110 million to expand its electrolyser factory, illustrating the intensity of investment in this segment.

The project aims to meet the requirements of the ReFuelEU Aviation regulation, which sets increasing mandates for sustainable aviation fuel blending over the 2030–2050 period, in line with the European Green Deal. According to Verso Energy, ReSTart aims to be among the first large-scale European e-SAF production facilities. Antoine Huard, CEO and co-founder of Verso Energy, stated that the project intends to facilitate and accelerate the emergence of a European e-SAF industry, supporting from 2030 the targets set by ReFuelEU Aviation. Verso Energy also indicates it is developing eight e-fuels production units in France, Finland and the United States, and has 2 GW of renewable energy projects in development, construction or operation.