North America has seen new sustainable aviation fuel agreements this month announced by Boeing and Canada’s WestJet, as well as Air New Zealand for supply in Los Angeles. Boeing has signed deals with multiple SAF suppliers to source 9.4 million gallons of blended product, its biggest single annual commitment. Of this, 4 million gallons are destined for its Pacific Northwest fuel farms and another 5.4 million gallons for distribution through book-and-claim programmes. In Canada, Calgary-based WestJet has bought the first SAF supplied in the country through Shell Aviation’s Avelia book-and-claim system. And in Los Angeles, Air New Zealand is taking delivery this year of 9 million litres (2.4 million gallons) of neat SAF produced in Singapore by renewable energy group Neste. Additionally, Boeing has just partnered with Australia’s Wagner Sustainable Fuels in developing a SAF blending facility in the state of Queensland.   

Boeing’s latest commitment, 60% greater than its SAF acquisitions in 2023, will be used in the company’s ecoDemonstrator programme, through which technologies and practices designed to increase aircraft efficiency and reduce their emissions are assessed using the company’s fleet of testbed aircraft. The blended supplies, all of which will include 30% SAF developed with waste fats, oils and greases, will also be used on Boeing’s commercial operational flights in the US.

The 4 million gallons of blended SAF destined for Boeing’s fuel farms will be produced by renewable energy group Neste and supplied by two US-based independent suppliers – 2.5 million gallons from EPIC Fuels, which operates major facilities in Oregon and Texas, and 1.5 million gallons from Avfuel, based in Michigan.

The additional 5.4 million gallons of blended SAF will also be provided in two batches, with 3.5 million gallons of Neste-made SAF to be supplied by EPIC Fuels, and 1.9 million gallons produced by World Fuel Services and supplied by World Energy. Through a book-and-claim process, Boeing will purchase the CO2 emissions reductions associated with these deals.

As well as driving up demand for SAF, book-and-claim systems authenticate the environmental attributes and ensure that these are allocated to buyers of the fuel as offset credits towards their net zero carbon emission targets.

 “About 20% of our fuel usage is a SAF blend,” said Ryan Faucett, Boeing’s VP Environmental Sustainability. “We continue to increase our use of this fuel to encourage growth in the SAF industry. We are also working to make SAF more available and affordable to our commercial airline customers through collaboration, investment, research and policy development.”

In Canada, WestJet said it had acquired the first SAF to be supplied in the country by Shell Aviation via its Avelia book-and-claim platform, though neither the volume nor timeframe of the fuel deal were disclosed in the airline’s announcement. Avelia uses blockchain technology to confirm transparent tracking of the environmental attributes of SAF, from production to delivery into aviation fuelling networks.

“WestJet is committed to enhancing our position as a first mover in sustainability technologies,” said Angela Avery, the airline group’s EVP and Chief People, Corporate and Sustainability Officer. “Just as we pioneered advancements in winglets and drag reduction, WestJet proudly stands as the first airline to acquire SAF by Shell in Canada. This first step sets the stage for future collaboration and innovation to encourage investments in this important lever for decarbonisation.”

The airline also added to the industry’s growing global pressure for support of SAF, saying it continued to work with government and industry partners to establish a sustainable, long-term commercial framework for the fuel which, “with the right regulatory and investment environment”, was one of aviation’s more viable and scalable decarbonisation pathways.

Christine Bassitt, Shell Aviation’s GM Americas, welcomed the WestJet deal, which not only supported decarbonisation of air transport, but simultaneously expanded the SAF supply chain in Canada to enable greater access to the fuel. 

Air New Zealand’s latest SAF deal was signed in Singapore during a New Zealand government-sponsored business delegation to South-East Asia, led by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, a former CEO of the airline. The fuel will be produced by Neste at its recently expanded Singapore refinery, with the first supplies already being delivered to Los Angeles International Airport, from which the airline flies daily. The total order will be fulfilled by 30 November.

This is the biggest purchase of SAF from Neste by any airline based outside North America and Europe for delivery before the end of 2024, and nine times Air New Zealand’s first SAF acquisition from Neste in 2022. The airline’s total global SAF uptake between April and the end of November is expected to be 850 million litres (225 million gallons), as part of a broader decarbonisation programme that includes the introduction of electric aircraft.

Having committed last year to acquire up to 23 all-electric ALIA aircraft from Beta Technologies, the airline has now announced Wellington-Marlborough as the first route for all-cargo flights, to operate in partnership with NZ Post.  Serving as a commercial demonstrator for zero emission operations, the first aircraft will be based in Wellington, the national capital, at the base of New Zealand’s North Island, while Marlborough Airport in Blenheim, at the top of the South Island, will install charging infrastructure for the plane’s return journey across the Cook Strait.

Kiri Hannifin, Air New Zealand’s Chief Sustainability Officer, said the demonstrator aircraft would be used to gradually prepare the national aviation system for lower emission aircraft ahead of 2030, when the airline plans to phase out its fleet of 23 Q300 turboprops, or potentially convert them to new zero-emission propulsion systems.  

“Decarbonising aviation is of global importance, and in New Zealand maintaining regional connectivity through this transition is of national importance,” said Dean Heiford, CEO of Marlborough Airport. “This is a big step for us on our own sustainability journey that we wouldn’t have been able to achieve without partnership. We’re looking forward to sharing our learnings with other regional airports across New Zealand.”

In neighbouring Australia, Boeing has bolstered its latest commitment to SAF by partnering with Wagner Sustainable Fuels, which has commenced the design and construction of a SAF blending facility in the state of Queensland.

Ther new facility, which is due to open later this year, is located at Wagner’s Wellcamp Airport in the regional city of Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, which accommodates flights ranging from turboprop and narrowbody passenger jets to Boeing 747 freight services by Cathay Pacific, which regularly flies fresh produce from the region to Asia and beyond.

“Wagner’s sustainability goals align with Boeing’s work to advance aviation decarbonisation and energy security through renewable energy including SAF, advanced technologies, operational efficiency and fleet renewal,” said Kim Camrass, sustainability lead for Boeing in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific.

“We’re proud to contribute to the building blocks of a sovereign SAF production industry with this Australian first facility,” said Matt Doyle, CEO of Wagner Sustainable Fuels, “and anticipate by the end of 2024 this facility will mark the start of the supply of SAF in Australia on a consistent basis.

“In collaboration with Boeing, the Wellcamp blending facility will demonstrate the greenhouse gas emissions reduction benefits of SAF for our customers, provide a focus for federal and state policy makers, and introduce the supply chain to this potential AUD3 billion ($2bn) per year industry.”

Photo: Boeing ecoDemonstrator aircraft refuelled with blended SAF

Tony Harrington

Correspondent

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A Gulfstream G600 business jet has become the first aircraft to undertake a transatlantic flight using 100% sustainable aviation fuel. The flight on November 19 departed Gulfstream Aerospace’s headquarters in Savannah, Georgia, landing at Farnborough Airport in the UK six hours and 56 minutes later. The Pratt & Whitney Canada PW815GA twin engines were powered by 100% HEFA-based SAF produced by World Energy and delivered by World Fuel Services. Other partners in the flight collaboration included Honeywell, Safran and Eaton. The fuel was notable for a complete absence of aromatic content, normally considered essential for engine performance and safety. World Energy supplied HEFA SAF, which included synthetic aromatics supplied by Virent, for Gulfstream’s first 100% SAF flight of a Rolls-Royce powered G650 in December 2022. Virgin Atlantic is making the first transatlantic flight of a commercial airliner to use 100% SAF in the reverse direction on November 28.

The data collected from the Gulfstream transatlantic flight will help the OEM and its suppliers gauge aircraft compatibility with future low-aromatic renewable fuels, particularly under cold temperatures for extended flight durations, said the company.

“Gulfstream is innovating for a sustainable future,” said Mark Burns, President. “One of the keys to reaching business aviation’s long-term decarbonisation goals is the broad use of SAF in place of fossil-based jet fuel. The completion of this world-class flight helps to advance business aviation’s overarching sustainability mission and create positive environmental impacts for future generations.”

The lack of aromatics in the fuel mix allows for a reduced impact on local air quality, with lower particulate emissions and very low sulphur content, so reducing non-CO2 environmental impacts. To allow the fuel on the transatlantic flight to fly without an aromatics content, Gulfstream obtained an Experimental Airworthiness Certificate from the FAA and the flight was preceded by ground engine tests.

“With this flight, Gulfstream was willing to push the envelope to show what’s possible. They mobilised resources and personnel to demonstrate the future of sustainable aviation fuel,” commented Adam Klauber, VP Sustainability and Digital Supply Chain at World Energy.

The company said the SAF produced for the G600 flight reduces flight lifecycle emissions by 83% compared to its fossil equivalent. The 17% residual emissions, plus the ground transport emissions, are to be covered by an additional supply of SAF to Los Angeles International Airport. SAF certificates (SAFc), showing ownership of the book & claim credits are supplied to Gulfstream along with the physical SAF environmental document, known as ‘proof of sustainability’. Emissions are therefore eliminated using physical SAF plus the SAFc to reach net zero and so the emission reductions are fully within the aviation sector.

World Energy also supplied 100% SAF for research flights conducted by Boeing and NASA in October to examine the benefits of 100% SAF in reducing contrails during flight.

“These partnerships are in keeping with World Energy’s commitment as a first mover in the industry to advancing knowledge about the performance of SAF, which is a critical tool in decarbonising the hard-to-abate aviation sector,” said a spokesperson for World Energy.

Photo: Gulfstream G600 takes on aromatics-free 100% SAF produced by World Energy

Christopher Surgenor

Editor

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Global technology company Microsoft will compensate carbon emissions from its corporate air travel and supply chain air cargo for the next 10 years through a landmark new book-and-claim partnership with US-based renewable fuels producer World Energy. Under the agreement, claimed by both companies to be the largest and longest of its type, Microsoft will buy sustainable aviation fuel certificates (SAFc) and World Energy will produce the requisite volumes of fuel. The SAF associated with the certificates will be transferred by World Energy from its plant in southern California to the nearest major airport, Los Angeles International, for use by airlines there. California has just passed corporate emissions reporting requirements, and similar regulations are expected soon from the US SEC and the EU, that include indirect (Scope 3) emissions like business travel and shipping.

Microsoft and World Energy estimate that 43.7 million gallons (165 litres) of petroleum jet fuel will be displaced by low-carbon SAF during the life of their book-and-claim partnership, and say the initiative will cut flight emissions by more than 469,000 tonnes of CO2.

“That is the equivalent of flying 824,053 economy class passengers from Seattle to New York and back on fully decarbonised flights,” explained the companies, “or decarbonising the transportation of over 54,000 tonnes of cargo between Asia and North America.”

Book-and-claim programmes are becoming increasingly popular, not only as tools to help corporations offset their travel emissions, but also as a means of increasing demand for and production of SAF, which is in short supply.

“The role of SAF certificates in decarbonising aviation is poised to grow exponentially and Microsoft’s commitment will help accelerate that growth,” said World Energy.

All parties benefit, with corporate customers able to progress their sustainability goals through the purchase of independently-authenticated SAF credits, fuel producers able to viably increase their SAF outputs as demand increases and airlines eventually able to access more and cheaper SAF as higher production begins to bring down prices.

As well, because the fuel covered by SAF certificates does not need to be physically transferred to certificate buyers, in this case Microsoft, it can be transferred to airports near where it is produced, minimising the logistics costs and emissions of transportation, while boosting SAF stocks.

World Energy was the first company in the world to produce SAF in commercial volumes, delivering initial supplies from its Paramount, California facility in 2016. Now one of three companies producing high volumes of SAF, it plans to increase its Californian production to 250 million gallons per year by 2024 and to add another 250 million gallons per year from 2025, when it activates a second plant in Houston. By 2030, it is targeting 1 million gallons per year.

“We’re thrilled to be launching this long-term collaboration with Microsoft,” commented World Energy CEO Gene Gebolys. “Through this agreement, we will empower one of the world’s most recognised innovators to grow their business while minimising their carbon impact.

“Together we’re committing to making a sustained push well into the next decade to decarbonise aviation at ever-greater scale. Microsoft has made some of the most ambitious decarbonisation commitments of any corporate leader and we are honoured to be teaming up to help them meet those goals.”

Katie Ross, Microsoft’s Director, Carbon Reduction Strategy & Market Development, said the partnership with World Energy “exemplifies the power of collaboration and technology in driving meaningful change in one of the hardest-to-abate sectors.

“Not only will it help to reduce our business travel and supply chain logistics emissions, but we hope this agreement will inspire others to take action and support the transition to alternative fuels that will enable a decarbonised aviation industry.”

The first SAF to be delivered under the new deal is expected to reach Los Angeles International Airport later this year.

Photo: World Energy’s Paramount facility

Editor’s note: Speakers from World Energy and Microsoft will be discussing their new agreement at the forthcoming Aviation Carbon 2023 conference in London on November 6/7, 2023.

Tony Harrington

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A new industrial consortium will develop a renewable fuel hub on the US west coast, with capacity to produce 340 million gallons (almost 1.3 billion litres) of sustainable aviation fuel per year from 2025. The lead partners in the $2 billion project are World Energy, the world’s first commercial-scale SAF producer, global industrial gases company Air Products and Honeywell, a specialist in SAF production technology. The new fuel plant, to be built and owned by Air Products, will be located at World Energy’s renewable fuel facility in Paramount, California. World Energy will be responsible for SAF production operations while Air Products will also construct and operate a new hydrogen plant that will be connected by a 16km extension to its existing Southern California hydrogen pipeline system. The partners will collaborate on innovations to further reduce the carbon intensity of the fuels produced. Operated under a 25-year ‘take-or-pay’ agreement with World Energy, Air Products claims it will be North America’s largest and the world’s most advanced SAF facility, reports Tony Harrington.

Air Products develops, engineers, builds, owns and operates industrial gas projects around the world, which include gasification facilities that sustainably convert natural resources into syngas for the production of power, fuels and chemicals; carbon capture; and low- and zero-carbon hydrogen projects to support transportation and the energy transition. Last year, it announced a multi-billion-dollar net zero hydrogen energy complex in Edmonton, Canada, and a $4.5 billion blue hydrogen complex to be built in Louisiana. The company had fiscal 2021 sales of $10.3 billion from operations in over 50 countries and has a current market capitalisation of around $55 billion.

Air Products CEO Seifi Ghasemi reported his company, together with partners, was already constructing the world’s biggest green hydrogen facility in Saudi Arabia, and the world’s biggest blue hydrogen plant in Louisiana. “Now we are teaming up with World Energy to build North America’s largest SAF facility,” he said. “We are very pleased to be working with them, enabling another US mega-project that will provide measurable sustainability benefits and advance California’s decarbonisation goals by producing a renewable fuel to meet the growing demands of the aviation industry.” 

World Energy has produced SAF on a commercial scale since 2016 at a former oil refinery site in Paramount, California. The new project, which also includes more than 15 other partners, will transform the plant into North America’s largest SAF production facility which, by 2050, is forecast to produce enough renewable fuels to remove more than 76 million metric tons of CO2, equivalent to 3.8 million carbon net zero flights between Los Angeles and New York. The new fuels will also cut fine particulate emissions from aircraft, as well as surface transport modes, while World Energy and Air Products will also work together to transition to green hydrogen inputs.

“Getting real about net zero aviation is going to require the mobilisation of expertise and resources far beyond anything that has come before,” said World Energy CEO Gene Gebolys. “We are pulling together the very best companies in the world with the expertise, experience, commitment and focus to collaborate on pushing the frontier of what can be done to decarbonise aviation today, while building a platform for what needs to be done to decarbonise flight entirely by 2050. This is an immense undertaking. But it must be done, and it requires that we move with the speed, coordination and determination befitting the problem we are working to tackle.”

Honeywell UOP’s Ecofining technology will be used to transform “innovative” renewable feedstocks to 100% sustainable fuel. CEO Bryan Glover said the company had a long-term relationship with World Energy, adding: “Our participation in this project will not only allow World Energy to build one of the most technologically-advanced SAF production and distribution hubs globally, it also helps accelerate the energy transition of the aviation industry.” 

Schematic of the Air Products / World Energy project:

Top photo: World Energy’s Paramount facility

United Airlines has operated the first-ever passenger flight with an engine using 100% sustainable aviation fuel. In a partnership with Boeing, CFM International, Virent and World Energy, yesterday’s flight of a new Boeing 737 MAX 8 from Chicago O’Hare to Washington DC’s Reagan National Airport carried 100 passengers. Commercial passenger flights are currently permitted to fly with a maximum of only 50% SAF in their engines but United and their partners received special authorisation from the FAA for the one-off demonstration flight because of the use of Virent’s synthetic aromatic kerosene (SAK) in the fuel blend, which was first used in a United test flight in October. The airline has also announced new corporate participants in its Eco-Skies Alliance corporate programme launched in April this year that has now collectively contributed towards the purchase of more than 7 million gallons of SAF. United claims its SAF purchase commitments are nearly twice the size of those by the rest of the global airline industry combined.

“We continue to lead from the front when it comes to climate change action,” said United CEO Scott Kirby, a passenger on the ORD-DCA flight. “Today’s SAF flight is not only a significant milestone for efforts to decarbonise our industry, but when combined with the surge in commitments to produce and purchase alternative fuels, we’re demonstrating the scalable and impactful way companies can join together and play a role in addressing the biggest challenge of our lifetimes.”

An important reason for the 50% maximum permitted SAF use in commercial flights is the absence of aromatic compounds from the HEFA-based SAF in use today. The minimum aromatic content in conventional jet kerosene is about 8% on average and in common jet engines the aromatic content encourages the seals to swell, so providing more protection from leakage. When operating with SAF, the lack of aromatics can be overcome by adding them to the fuel or blending it with conventional jet fuel, although concentrations of aromatics should be minimised to reduce carbon emissions.

The SAF used for the United test flight in October, and for yesterday’s passenger flight, was a mix of Virent’s BioForm SAK and World Energy’s HEFA synthetic paraffinic kerosene (SPK). This accounts for the lower aromatic content in the SPK made through HEFA pathways, while still enabling a blend that is 0% fossil fuel-derived and a 100% drop-in ready with no aircraft or engine modification required, said United.

SAK is produced at Virent’s demonstration plant in Madison, Wisconsin, using corn dextrose from Iowa, and the company is targeting a greater than 50% reduction in lifecycle GHG emissions. Virent’s parent company, Marathon Petroleum, provided testing, blending and transportation of the 100% SAF for the United flights. Virent has also developed data from engine testing that shows a SAK/HEFA blend is cleaner burning and has lower particulate matter emissions than conventional jet fuels.

“Showing Virent’s BioForm SAK enables a 100% SAF that meets current jet fuel specifications is a big step, as it demonstrates that SAF can be a reality without the need to make significant changes to the current aviation fleet and infrastructure,” said Dave Kettner, Virent President and General Counsel, after the October test flight. “Virent’s proprietary technology demonstrates that SAF can be 100% renewable and 100% compatible with our current aviation fleet and infrastructure.”

United recently agreed to purchase 1.5 billion gallons of SAF from startup Alder Fuels, which the airline says is enough to fly more than 57 million passengers. Alder Fuels, headed by former World Energy CCO Bryan Sherbacow, recently announced a strategic alliance with government of Colombia to source biomass feedstock for conversion into sustainable low-carbon crude used for producing SAF.

The airline is also an investor in Fulcrum BioEnergy, in which it has an option to purchase up to 900 million gallons of SAF.

United has nearly 30 participants in its Eco-Skies Alliance programme, including 12 new participants such as Maersk, Meta, Microsoft, Salesforce and Visa. The collective purchase this year of more than 7 million gallons of SAF, with 80% GHG emissions reductions on a lifecycle basis, is enough to eliminate around 66,000 tonnes of CO2e emissions, or enough to fly passengers more than 460 million miles, says United. To build transparency and enable certified SAF emission reductions for its corporate customers, the airline recently partnered with Microsoft, Air bp and the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials in a first-ever book and claim pilot (see article).

Photo: Fuelling United’s 100% SAF flight

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United Airlines and Honeywell have announced a joint multimillion-dollar investment in Alder Fuels, a new cleantech venture headed by Bryan Sherbacow, founder of AltAir Fuels (now World Energy), the world’s first commercial sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) producer. United has also agreed to purchase 1.5 billion gallons of SAF over 20 years, the largest publicly announced SAF agreement to date, reports Susan van Dyk. The airline says the purchase is one-and-a-half times the size of the rest of the world’s airlines’ publicly announced SAF commitments combined. Alder claims it will be pioneering first-of-its-kind technologies to produce SAF at scale by converting abundant biomass, such as forest and crop waste, into sustainable low-carbon, drop-in replacement crude oil that can be used to produce aviation fuel. When coupled with Honeywell’s Ecofining process, the start-up says the technologies could have the ability to produce a carbon-negative fuel across the full lifecycle at a specification with today’s jet fuel.

United has pledged to reduce 100% of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 through large investments in SAF production, carbon capture and sequestration, and electric aircraft. It was the first airline to use SAF in regular operations on a continuous basis. Since then, the carrier has purchased more SAF than any other airline and now with this agreement has more than 70% of the airline industry’s publicly announced SAF commitments.

“Since announcing our 100% green commitment in 2020, United has stayed focused on decarbonising without relying on the use of traditional carbon offsets,” said United CEO Scott Kirby. “Part of that commitment means increasing SAF usage and availability since it’s the fastest way to reduce emissions across our fleet. However, to scale SAF as quickly as necessary, we need to look beyond existing solutions and invest in research and development for new pathways like the one Alder is developing.”

United made headlines in 2015 by investing $30 million in Fulcrum Bioenergy, a developer of SAF production from municipal solid waste, and signing, at the time, the largest offtake agreement for SAF. In 2020, United became the first airline to announce a commitment to invest in carbon capture and sequestration and has since followed with investments in electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft and 19-seat electric aircraft that have the potential to fly customers up to 250 miles before the decade’s end.

To advance its goals, in June 2021, United formed United Airlines Ventures, a venture fund that focuses on startups, upcoming technologies and sustainability concepts that will complement United’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050. The joint investment with Honeywell in Alder Fuels is the latest from United Airlines Ventures and continues what the the company describes as a commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 by tackling emissions at their source and continuing and accelerating development and investment in clean technologies.

Back in 2008, Honeywell’s UOP process technology played a pioneering role in the first-ever commercial airliner to fly using biofuel from second generation, renewable feedstocks. Made from the oil of jatropha plants, a 50/50 blend was used to power an engine of an Air New Zealand Boeing 747-400 during a test flight.

Honeywell will use its Ecofining process to partner with Alder to commercialise its technology, which was jointly developed with Eni. UOP currently has licensed 20 Ecofining units in nine countries around the world, processing 12 different types of renewable feedstocks.

“Our work with United and Alder on this new technology will help transform the industry and support the growth of a zero-carbon economy,” said Darius Adamczyk, Honeywell’s CEO. 

Currently, all commercial SAF volumes are produced from fats, oils and greases, a costly feedstock with limited availability to produce SAF at required scale. Shifting to other types of low-cost, low-carbon feedstocks that are available in significant quantities is considered critical to large-scale SAF volumes.

Little information, other than that it is a pyrolysis-type technology, is currently available on the specific technology that Alder Fuels will use. This type of technology produces a liquid intermediate that can be further upgraded into finished fuels such as SAF. It is in the upgrading process that Honeywell’s Ecofining technology and their advanced expertise in hydrotreating will become crucial to produce drop-in fuels such as SAF. Alder Fuels also envisages the suitability of the ‘green’ crude oil to be converted by the global refinery industry with existing equipment and infrastructure. Commercialisation is expected by 2025.

The new company’s President and CEO, Bryan Sherbacow, is a veteran in the industry with over 15 years’ experience in the development of low carbon fuels. He was responsible for the first commercialisation of SAF production as co-founder of AltAir Fuels in 2009, the world’s first refinery designed to produce SAF. Commissioned in January 2016, AltAir Paramount converted a petroleum refinery to the production of SAF, renewable diesel, naphtha and propane. Sherbacow negotiated the aviation industry’s first commercial contracts for SAF with United Airlines, KLM and World Fuel Services. Additionally, he executed the first contract for operational use of renewable diesel fuel by the US Navy. Subsequent contracts include with Gulfstream, Boeing, UPS and Amazon. In March 2018, he facilitated the acquisition by World Energy of AltAir and the Paramount refinery assets. Formerly Chief Commercial Officer of World Energy, Sherbacow will continue as senior advisor to the CEO of World Energy, according to his LinkedIn profile.

“Aviation poses one of the greatest technology challenges for addressing climate change and SAF has demonstrated the greatest potential. However, there is insufficient raw material to meet demand,” he said. “Alder’s technology revolutionises SAF production by enabling use of widely available, low-cost and low-carbon feedstock. The industry is now a major step closer to using 100% SAF with our drop-in fuel that accelerates the global transition to a zero-carbon economy.”

According to the US Department of Energy (DOE), US forestry residues and agricultural residues alone could provide enough biomass energy to generate more than 17 billion gallons of jet fuel and displace 75% of US aviation fuel consumption. If the nation was to broadly adopt regenerative agricultural practices, which capture more carbon in healthier soil compared to traditional methods, the US could generate an additional seven billion gallons of SAF, which would completely replace its current fossil jet fuel consumption. Alder’s technology and demand for its fuel from the aviation industry could create a large new market for biomass from regenerative practices.

Photo: United Airlines

Susan van Dyk

GreenAir Correspondent

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Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production on the US West Coast has been boosted with the announcement that Boeing will invest in SkyNRG Americas’ first dedicated SAF plant in the country, while JetBlue Airways said it will increase its usage of SAF by taking World Energy’s product for its operations at Los Angeles International Airport. SkyNRG, which is based in the Netherlands, is looking to establish a series of SAF production plants, with the first planned to come online in Europe, reports Mark Pilling. Its recently formed US subsidiary SkyNRG Americas said the US SAF facility will supply airports and airlines on the West Coast. Boeing’s investment in the project includes the advance purchase of SAF from the facility for use in company flight tests and other operations. At this stage, neither the location of the US SkyNRG SAF plant nor the scale of Boeing’s investment have been announced. Meanwhile, JetBlue’s new SAF deal with World Energy and World Fuel Services has already started with fuelling of the airline’s flights at Los Angeles.

Boeing, SkyNRG and SkyNRG Americas said they will work together to accelerate SAF development globally, focusing on scaling production capacity, building awareness and engaging stakeholders throughout the value chain, including airlines, governments and environmental organisations. “Sustainable aviation fuels are safe, proven and offer the greatest potential to reduce our industry’s carbon emissions in the near, medium and long term,” said Boeing Chief Sustainability Officer Chris Raymond. “This partnership is an important milestone on our journey to decarbonise aerospace, while ensuring that its societal and economic benefits are available to people everywhere.”

“We are extremely proud to take the longstanding Boeing-SkyNRG relationship to this new level. We have always been strong collaborators and through this teaming effort, we’re strengthening our relationship even further,” said Maarten van Dijk, Managing Director of SkyNRG.

Added John Plaza, Chief Executive of SkyNRG Americas: “We are thrilled to be in this partnership with Boeing and grateful for their leadership by providing an advance payment for SAF from our first facility. With this teaming agreement, SkyNRG Americas will be able to accelerate our efforts to expand the SAF industry throughout North America.”

Boeing becomes the second announced partner in SkyNRG Americas’ SAF production project following the signing of a memorandum of understanding in April between the firm and Alaska Airlines to jointly invest in its production, supply and use via offtakes. The MoU allows for Alaska Airlines to “collaborate on the development of SkyNRG Americas’ Direct Supply Line (DSL) projects and supporting policies that increase the commercial supply and pricing of SAF and educate the public on the benefits of SAF produced from municipal solid waste and associated waste streams,” a spokesperson for SkyNRG told GreenAir.

JetBlue’s new relationship with World Energy and World Fuel Services will increase JetBlue’s usage of SAF and will include 1.5 million gallons of blended SAF a year for at least three years, accounting for approximately 5% of JetBlue’s fuel uplift at Los Angeles International.

“JetBlue is facing climate change head on and preparing our business for a new climate reality,” said Sara Bogdan, JetBlue’s Director of Sustainability and ESG. “We are focused on growing our use of sustainable aviation fuel to replace conventional fossil-based jet fuel in our focus cities as it becomes available. It has not historically had the same policy support as other low carbon fuels and comes at a premium today. We’re excited by the prospect of additional policy support to help grow and scale sustainable aviation fuel, helping to usher in a lower-carbon future for aviation.”

The Los Angeles announcement follows JetBlue’s move to fuel flights from San Francisco International Airport with SAF from Neste. JetBlue is World Energy’s second US commercial airline partner to incorporate SAF into its regular operations. Delivery of the fuel into Los Angeles will be managed by World Fuel Services, JetBlue’s fuel management company. “JetBlue is taking aggressive action utilising tools available today to deliver on their net zero carbon emissions goals,” said Bryan Sherbacow, Chief Commercial Officer at World Energy. “Expanding commercial use of sustainable aviation fuel is critical in changing the industry’s carbon outcomes.”

The move by JetBlue at Los Angeles, one of the carriers most successful and busiest markets, and the SAF initiatives of other carriers, is strongly supported by the airport. “Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) is committed to achieving ambitious sustainability goals, including net zero carbon emissions and 100% renewable energy for LAX facilities by 2045,” said LAWA CEO Justin Erbacci.

JetBlue has aggressive sustainability targets including the conversion of 10% of total jet fuel to be from blended SAF by 2030 and the conversion of 40% of three main ground service equipment vehicle types to electric by 2025 and 50% by 2030. Renewable fuel options will play a critical role in the aviation industry’s transition to lower-carbon operations, it said. Its ambitious ESG targets include a goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2040. Last year, JetBlue became the first major US airline to achieve carbon neutrality on all domestic flying, primarily through buying carbon offsets.

Photo: Boeing

Mark Pilling

GreenAir Contributing Editor

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Large corporations, including Nike, Siemens and AXA Deutschland, have signalled their sustainable travel intentions by launching significant sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) buying commitments with United Airlines and Lufthansa, reports Mark Pilling. United is claiming a first with its Eco-Skies Alliance programme which “allows corporate customers the opportunity to pay the additional cost for SAF. This contribution goes beyond traditional carbon offsets and will show there is demand for low emissions fuel solutions”, said the airline. The 11 organisations that have joined Eco-Skies are software firms Autodesk and Palantir, Boston Consulting Group, CEVA Logistics, Deloitte, shipping companies DHL Global Forwarding and DSV Panalpina, HP Inc, Nike, Siemens and Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Others have joined but have yet to be announced.

Under the programme, customer’s donations are held in a designated SAF account and used by United to purchase additional SAF or invest in “promising” SAF producers. The airline pledges to use 100% of donations for the future purchase of SAF and/or SAF-blended products, or to invest in SAF development.

“More than a dozen companies will work in partnership with United and contribute funds towards the purchase of 3.4 million gallons of sustainable aviation,” said the carrier. “United has made the airline industry’s single largest investment in SAF and has purchased more SAF than any other airline in the world. World Energy, a long-term partner of United, will supply the SAF to Los Angeles International Airport.”

United explained that work is underway to enable firms to record their SAF purchase contributions towards their own carbon offsetting targets. “United is part of the Clean Skies for Tomorrow Coalition, which is working to embed SAF reductions in key frameworks, including the GHG Protocol, the Carbon Disclosure Project and the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi),” said a United spokesperson. “United will be providing air transport buyers with the required information they need to be able to claim emissions reductions.”

As an inaugural participant, CEVA Logistics said it is taking a lead in the air cargo industry to reduce the logistics-related impact on the environment at the source by creating demand for more SAF.

“With the announcement of our participation in the Eco-Skies Alliance, we are working with interested customers to explore the different ways to make this SAF option available for their supply chain operations,” CEVA told GreenAir in a statement.

“United exclusively buys the SAF for blending with conventional aviation fuel, a process that results in a fixed, defined surcharge. CEVA Logistics is using the early stages of the Eco-Skies Alliance programme to further define and expand the offering to more and more customers. In terms of reporting: the methodology and results are externally validated, and the customers receive a certificate, stating the company name, the reduced metric tons of CO2 emissions, the routes and time period.”

Writing on LinkedIn, DSV’s Senior Director Sustainability, Lindsay Maclver Zingg, said: “The Eco-Skies Alliance is an important strategic move in realising our green ambitions, driving a more sustainable transport and logistics industry for the future and is a key step towards reducing our Scope 3 emissions, which are related to subcontracted air freight transport.” Greenhouse gas emissions related to Scope 3 are indirect emissions associated with other functions of a company’s value chain including transportation.

According to United CEO Scott Kirby: “This is just the beginning. Our goal is to add more companies to the Eco-Skies Alliance programme, purchase more SAF and work across industries to find other innovative paths towards decarbonisation.”

Added Bryan Sherbacow, Chief Commercial Officer at World Energy: “This is an innovative example of an airline enabling corporations and individuals to access direct decarbonisation solutions. This can serve as a model beyond aviation for the broader economy.”

Hard on the heels of the United Eco-Alliance unveiling, fellow Star Alliance member Lufthansa announced it was launching the Compensaid Corporate Program to enable businesses to use SAF for their air travel. The first customer is insurance provider AXA Deutschland. It will offset its business-related air travel for an initial period of three years.

Lufthansa launched Compensaid in August 2019 as an online platform enabling travellers to offset their emissions. “Air travel compensation with Compensaid is done either through the use of SAF, the sponsorship of certified climate protection projects, or a combination of both options,” said the airline. “AXA Deutschland’s offsetting starts with 15 % SAF and 85% through selected climate protection projects. This results in the complete CO2 neutrality of all the flights.”

These latest announcements build on several initiatives by corporations to offset their business travel emissions using SAF over recent months. Deloitte revealed SAF deals with American Airlines and Delta Air Lines earlier this year (see article) and a slew of further initiatives from various players are likely as the year goes on.

“Corporate customers are moving fast to develop sustainable travel solutions, mechanisms and SAF offsets,” said Sarah Wilkin, chief executive of Fly Green Alliance, an Amsterdam-based SAF consultancy that has created a sustainable travel programme.

“The key is to create and adopt measurable programmes, tools and reporting systems that work towards carbon neutral commitments and ESG policy developments. We believe commitments through an alliance will support the SAF industry scale up, accelerate investments and increase project developments, which is needed to reach 2050 targets.”

Photo: United Airlines

Mark Pilling

Contributing Editor, GreenAir

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Microsoft, Alaska Airlines and SkyNRG have entered into agreements whereby employees of the software giant will have the CO2 emissions from their air travel between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and three West Coast destinations reduced through sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) credits purchased from SkyNRG. The funds from the credits will be used by SkyNRG to supply SAF produced by World Energy in California and delivered to the airport fuelling system used by Alaska Airlines. The three companies hope the partnership, the first of its kind in the United States, will serve as a model for other companies and organisations that are committed to reducing the environmental impact of business air travel. They said they would explore expanding the programme in the future and are supporting the development of a global environmental accounting standard for voluntary corporate SAF purchases.

“After a decade advancing sustainable aviation fuel, this partnership marks a significant milestone in the work to make SAF a commercially-viable aviation fuel alternative,” said Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Airlines. “SAF enables us to fly cleaner and reduce our impact on the environment. However, we cannot do this alone – we must work together with other industries and business leaders like Microsoft and SkyNRG, among others who are thinking big, to achieve our goals and grow the marketplace for SAF.”

The agreement between Alaska and Microsoft relates to flights by Microsoft employees from Seattle-Tacoma to San Francisco, San Jose and Los Angeles airports – the three most popular routes they travel on Alaska.

As part of Microsoft’s partnership agreement with SkyNRG, Microsoft will become the newest member of Board Now, a coalition of organisations committed to reducing carbon emissions from flying through directly contributing to the development of new SAF production capacity.

The SAF produced by World Energy uses waste oils and is claimed to deliver a life-cycle carbon reduction of 75% compared to fossil jet fuel and sustainability is guaranteed by SkyNRG through certification from the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials.

“The emergence of a SAF production system and market is a once-in-a-century opportunity to launch a new energy source for an entire industry, guided by strong sustainability standards from day one,” said Theye Veen, SkyNRG’s Managing Director. “We are very pleased to be joined by leading companies Microsoft and Alaska Airlines in this next step.”

Microsoft has committed to be carbon negative by 2030 and by 2050 remove from the environment more carbon than it has emitted since its founding.

The company’s EVP Worldwide Commercial Business, Judson Althoff, told a World Economics Forum webinar this week that Microsoft’s carbon emissions from employee air travel accounted for around 400,000 tonnes each year.

“It’s easy to do certain things in getting to net zero carbon but air travel is one of the more difficult ones, so this year we decided to make an additional commitment relative to sustainability and while right now not many of us are travelling we do expect business travel to return to significant and substantial levels,” he said. 

“To address the challenge, we have formed partnerships with airlines like KLM and Alaska to invest in SAF for our business flights. In October, we partnered with KLM to purchase an amount of SAF equivalent to all flights taken by Microsoft employees between the US and the Netherlands. We’ve now built on this momentum by announcing a partnership with Alaska to acquire SAF for the total amount of fuel we would burn on Alaska for our busiest and most common routes for business travel.

“Whilst Covid has created a bit of relief on business travel, we expect to continue to travel in the future to engage with our customers and support them around the world, and we want to return to flying responsibly. 

“Right now, SAF is more expensive and so it is harder for energy companies to justify production, so you end up with a chicken and egg conundrum between supply and demand. In order to break this cycle, companies like Microsoft need to step forward so that energy companies can see the demand signal and produce more SAF, and so the costs will come down to allow airlines like KLM and Alaska to purchase more SAF. At the end of the day, we’re all in this together.”

Microsoft, SkyNRG and Alaska are participating in a pilot project of the World Economics Forum’s ‘Clean Skies for Tomorrow’ initiative to develop a global environmental accounting standard for voluntary corporate SAF purchases. They have also pledged to hold supplier and corporate forums to share learnings and increase interest in using SAF to lower the carbon emissions from business travel.

Photo: Alaska Airlines (Chad Slattery)