Repsol to supply SAF to Atlas Air and Inditex for regular use on cargo flights....

Flights from Zaragoza Airport (Spain) carried out by Atlas Air for Inditex are using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced by Repsol.

Atlas Air becomes the first cargo airline to use SAF regularly on its freight transport flights in Spain, marking a new milestone towards the decarbonization of the airline sector.

Repsol, a multi-energy company committed to leading the energy transition, announced that it has begun supplying sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to Atlas Air for use in all its flights with its customer Inditex from Zaragoza Airport (Spain). Beginning in November, Atlas Air is initially incorporating 5% SAF in all its flights.

The agreement makes New York-based Atlas Air the first cargo airline to use SAF regularly on its cargo flights in Spain, marking a new milestone in the airline sector. The initiative is in line with the companies’ commitments to achieve their respective carbon footprint reduction goals, and also positions them to comply with anticipated compliance measures included in the ReFuelEU Aviation regulations that require use of 2% renewable fuels in 2025, 6% in 2030 and 70% in 2050, respectively.

“With this agreement, we take another step in the decarbonization of aviation. We show that SAF is the future, but also the present. With the upcoming launch of our new advanced biofuels plant in Cartagena (Spain), we are ready to supply the sector with the SAF it needs to realize its decarbonization ambitions,” said Óliver Fernández, Director of International Aviation at Repsol.

“We are committed to contributing to the sustainability of the aviation sector and appreciate this opportunity to work with our valued partners at Inditex and Repsol,” said Richard Broekman, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Sustainability for Atlas Air Worldwide. “It is critical for our sector to work together in driving wider adoption and availability of SAF, which ultimately will have a positive impact on our industry and the environment.”

The agreement also aims to enhance local SAF production, both in terms of refinery capacity and in the sourcing of nearby raw materials, with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the aviation sector. Aena, responsible for the management of the Zaragoza Airport, participates proactively in the promotion and integration of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) to promote their production and encourage their consumption.

Repsol is a pioneer in the manufacture of renewable fuels for all types of transport in Spain. It has been manufacturing biofuels in its industrial complexes for 25 years and already has more than 30 service stations in the Iberian Peninsula that supply 100% renewable fuels to its customers. Renewable fuels are an alternative now available for all transport segments and represent the main solution for aviation, maritime transport, and heavy road transport that do not currently have a viable alternative in electrification.

In the next weeks, Repsol will start up its first plant dedicated exclusively to the production of advanced biofuels in the Iberian Peninsula and one of the first plants of its kind in Europe at its industrial complex in Cartagena (Spain). Repsol has invested more than 200 million euros in the construction of the plant. It will have a production capacity of 250,000 tons of SAF and renewable diesel per year, produced from various types of residues, mainly used cooking oil and waste from the agri-food industry, and will reduce 900,000 tons of CO2 per year.

In 2022, total SAF production worldwide was 240,000 tons, according to the IATA. In 2025, approximately 120,000 tons will be needed in Spain to cover the 2% obligation of RefuelEU Aviation. Production of the new plant will be able to cover all the SAF demand in the Iberian Peninsula, complying with the obligation until the European mandate rises to 3%.

eFuels leader Infinium receives $75 million equity commitment from Breakthrough Energy Catalyst for investment in Project Roadrunner

The investment will enable the availability of SAF under an innovative fuel offtake agreement with American Airlines, with financial support from Citi

Infinium and Breakthrough Energy Catalyst announced this week, a $75 million project equity investment commitment to support Infinium’s Project Roadrunner, subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions. Project Roadrunner will convert waste carbon dioxide (CO2) and renewable power into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and other low-carbon fuels. This first-of-a-kind commercial-scale Power-to-Liquids (PtL) eFuels facility is expected to be the largest PtL eFuels project in North America once operational. Breakthrough Energy Catalyst funds and invests in first-of-a-kind projects that support the deployment of emerging climate technologies to reduce emissions and accelerate the clean energy transition. This commitment represents Catalyst’s first equity investment to date.

Project Roadrunner, located in West Texas, will convert an existing brownfield gas-to-liquids project into a fully integrated eFuels facility that will deliver products into both U.S. and international markets. It will primarily produce Infinium eSAF, a sustainable aviation fuel with the potential to significantly reduce the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) associated with air travel. PtL SAF is expected to reduce lifecycle GHG emissions in aviation by around 90 percent, which is higher than the emissions reductions achieved using SAF on the market today. Project Roadrunner will also produce Infinium eNaphtha for use in plastics manufacturing and Infinium eDiesel for use in hard-to-electrify transportation methods, such as long-haul trucking and maritime applications.

Transatlantic SAF powered flight success....

Virgin Atlantic has operated a flight between London Heathrow and New York JFK today flying with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) marking the culmination of a year of radical collaboration, demonstrating the capability of SAF as a safe replacement for fossil-derived jet fuel. The Boeing 787 touched down a little after 19:04 this evening. 

SAF has a significant role to play in the decarbonization of long-haul aviation, and pathway to Net Zero 2050. The fuel, made from waste products, delivers CO2 lifecycle emissions savings of up to 70%, whilst performing like the traditional jet fuel it replaces.

While other technologies such as electric and hydrogen remain decades away, SAF can be used now. Today, SAF represents less than 0.1% of global jet fuel volumes and fuel standards allow for just a 50% SAF blend in commercial jet engines. Virgin Flight VIR100 will prove that the challenge of scaling up production is one of policy and investment, and industry and government must move quickly to create a thriving UK SAF industry.

As well as proving the capabilities of SAF, Flight100 will assess how its use affects the flight's non-carbon emissions with the support of consortium partners ICF, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), Imperial College London and the University of Sheffield. The research will improve scientific understanding of the effects of SAF on contrails and particulates and help to implement contrail forecasts in the flight planning process. Data and research will be shared with industry, and Virgin Atlantic will continue its involvement with contrail work through RMI's Climate Impact Task Force, which is part-funded by Virgin Unite.

The SAF used on Flight VIR100 was a unique dual blend; 88% HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) supplied by AirBP and 12% SAK (Synthetic Aromatic Kerosene) supplied by Virent, a subsidiary of Marathon Petroleum Corporation. The HEFA is made from waste fats while the SAK is made from plant sugars, with the remainder of plant proteins, oil and fibres continuing into the food chain. SAK is needed in 100% SAF blends to give the fuel the required aromatics for engine function. To achieve Net Zero 2050, the innovation and investment needed across all available feedstocks and technologies must be harnessed to maximize SAF volumes as well as continuing the research and development needed to bring new zero-emission aircraft to market. 

Shai Weiss, Chief Executive Officer, of Virgin Atlantic said: "Flight100 proves that Sustainable Aviation Fuel can be used as a safe, drop-in replacement for fossil-derived jet fuel and it's the only viable solution for decarbonizing long-haul aviation. It's taken radical collaboration to get here and we're proud to have reached this important milestone, but we need to push further. There is simply not enough SAF and it's clear that in order to reach production at scale, we need to see significantly more investment. This will only happen when regulatory certainty and price support mechanisms, backed by the government, are in place. Flight100 proves that if you make it, we'll fly it."

Sir Richard Branson, Founder, of Virgin Atlantic said: "The world will always assume something can't be done, until you do it. The spirit of innovation is getting out there and trying to prove that we can do things better for everyone's benefit. Virgin Atlantic has been challenging the status quo and pushing the aviation industry to never settle and do better since 1984. Fast forward nearly 40 years, that pioneering spirit continues to be Virgin Atlantic's beating heart as it pushes the boundaries from carbon fibre aircraft and fleet upgrades to sustainable fuels.

I couldn't be prouder to be onboard Flight100 today alongside the teams at Virgin Atlantic and our partners, which have been working together to set the flight path for the decarbonization of long-haul aviation."

UK Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: "Today's historic flight, powered by 100% sustainable aviation fuel, shows how we can both decarbonize transport and enable passengers to keep flying when and where they want.   This Government has backed today's flight to take-off and we will continue to support the UK's emerging SAF industry as it creates jobs, grows the economy and gets us to Jet Zero."

Dame Karen Pierce, His Majesty's Ambassador to the United States said: "This world first marks a crucial step in the UK's journey towards Jet Zero aviation emissions.

We look forward to continuing our close work alongside the US to increase the use of this pioneering fuel as we welcome the sustainable flights of the future."

Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Rick Cotton said: "As part of our agency-wide goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, the Port Authority strongly encourages and supports efforts by our airport stakeholders to reduce their carbon footprint and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We are thrilled to welcome the first transatlantic flight using 100% sustainable aviation fuel into John F. Kennedy International Airport and hope that the success of Virgin Atlantic's flight to New York will inspire the entire airport community to move forward with aggressive sustainability efforts."

Sheila Remes, Vice President of Environmental Sustainability, Boeing said: "In 2008 Virgin Atlantic and Boeing completed the first commercial SAF test flight on a 747 and today we will accomplish yet another significant milestone utilizing a 787 Dreamliner. This flight is a key step toward our commitment to deliver 100% SAF-compatible aeroplanes by 2030. As we work toward the civil aviation industry's net-zero goal, today's historic journey highlights what we can achieve together."

Simon Burr, Group Director of Engineering, Technology & Safety, Rolls-Royce plc, said: "We are incredibly proud that our Trent 1000 engines are powering the first ever widebody flight using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel across the Atlantic today. Rolls-Royce has recently completed compatibility testing of 100% SAF on all our in-production civil aero engine types and this is further proof that there are no engine technology barriers to the use of 100% SAF. The flight represents a major milestone for the entire aviation industry in its journey towards net zero carbon emissions."

Despite the joy of this milestone flight, SAF like this is not the only answer to a future of aviation that is harmless to the environment.  There isn't enough SAF around at the moment to power even a full 1% of flights operating this year.  Then, of course, you have to consider the energy used in the creation of SAF, the oil in the first place and the transportation of such raw products. There are many campaigners who offer the opinion that growing crops specifically to be converted to fuel would damage biodiversity as well as cause a mass of deforestation which would make it equally as bad as fossil fuels.  The Royal Society reports that the energy crops considered – rapeseed, miscanthus, and poplar wood – would require more than 50 per cent of the UK’s available agricultural land to replace aviation fuel completely.

Emirates joins UAE-based research consortium for renewable and advanced aviation fuels

The consortium, Air-CRAFT, is supported by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and UAE General Civil Aviation Authority, and comprises eight founding entities: ADNOC, Boeing, Emirates, ENOC Group, Etihad, Honeywell, Khalifa University, Masdar.

                                   In the UAE Year of Sustainability, and at the 3rd ICAO Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3) was held in Dubai, eight founding entities announced the launch of the “Air-CRAFT” initiative - a UAE based research consortium focused on developing, producing, and scaling sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) technologies.

Air-CRAFT, or the UAE Centre for Renewable and Advanced Fuel Technologies for Aviation, is a first-of-its-kind initiative that will bring together entities across the value chain – industrial policy makers, aviation regulators, fuel producers, academia and researchers, aircraft and powerplant manufacturers, and airline operators. While based in the UAE, the consortium will also engage with, and welcome the participation of relevant international entities as it progresses. The new initiative was announced on the sidelines of CAAF/3 today and ahead of COP28. 

Air-CRAFT is supported by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. “The aviation sector holds great importance as a key contributor to the GDP and as a target sector for our robust decarbonization drive,” said His Excellency Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure. “The UAE has committed to reaching net zero by 2050, and this goal can only be achieved by slashing the emissions across the board. Air-CRAFT will go a long way in supporting the decarbonization of the aviation sector, helping to make it resilient and sustainable well into the future.”

His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy of the UAE and Chairman of the GCAA said: Introducing 'Air-CRAFT' at CAAF3 in Dubai emphasizes the UAE's commitment to accelerate sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production, uniting government, private sector, and academia for a collective push toward sustainable aviation practice”. Bin Touq adds, “Aligned with the net-zero emissions goal by 2050, this consortium, the largest and most unique in the SAF industry, represents a substantial stride towards greener aviation future, and we look forward to making a significant positive impact through it”.

UK SAF industry goes from forest waste to new heights with £53 million boost

Advanced Fuel Fund winning projects will help create up to 10,000 green jobs by 2035 and enhance the economy by around £1.8 billion a year.

Passengers are another step closer to flying without carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions thanks to £53 million of government funding announced today (17 November 2023).

From utilising forest waste to transforming power to liquid fuel, 9 pioneering projects helping to create a brighter, cleaner future have been awarded a share of £53 million in the latest round of the Department for Transport (DfT) Advanced Fuels Fund (AFF).

The full £135 million AFF pot is designed to help companies convert waste materials and by-products – such as household waste like cooking oil and industrial gases – into fuels. It can also help achieve greenhouse gas emissions savings of more than 70% compared to conventional fossil jet fuel.  

Winning projects from both rounds – spanning the length and breadth of the country from the Orkney Islands to the North of England and South Wales – will help create up to 10,000 green jobs by 2035 and boost the economy by around £1.8 billion every year. 

This round’s winning projects include a demo plant converting sawmill and forestry waste and a commercial plant using power-to-liquid technology to convert CO2 and green hydrogen into plane fuel. Together, both projects could create over 70,000 tonnes of SAF a year.

As a result, the UK could soon have the capability to produce up to 810,000 tonnes of SAF – enough to fly around the equator of Earth an estimated 3,108 times.

Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, said:   "The investment we’re announcing today demonstrates our confidence in the UK’s SAF industry – creating jobs, encouraging overseas investment and levelling up communities across the whole country.  Thanks to this government’s backing, the UK is quickly becoming a SAF superpower – ensuring people can continue to travel how they want in a way that’s fit for the future. "

Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, said: "Delivering a UK SAF industry this decade is a must if we are to drive down emissions from aviation, meet our 10% SAF mandate and reduce costs for consumers. We welcome this latest funding announcement, which will support a number of innovative projects across all parts of the UK.

The pieces of the puzzle are coming together but more work is needed, in particular, to deliver the initial plants under construction by 2025, while keeping overall transition costs as low as possible for passengers, so air travel can continue to be enjoyed by all in the decades to come."

With the upcoming SAF mandate requiring at least 10% of jet fuel to come from sustainable feedstocks by 2030, the AFF is helping deliver that target. This will see the industry save up to 2.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) annually – equal to taking 1,296,468 petrol cars off the road in a year. 

Amy Hebert, CEO of Arcadia eFuels, which has been awarded £12.3 million through the AFF, said:    "We applaud the UK and DfT for recognising the need to support SAF production in order to expedite the decarbonisation of aviation. Grant programs like this, combined with other incentives, will help build commercial-scale facilities for the production of SAF."

RTX's Pratt & Whitney Canada and Gulfstream successfully complete first 100% SAF transatlantic flight with G600 business jet powered by PW800 engines

Pioneering flight supports the aviation industry's goal of achieving net-zero CO2 emissions

Pratt & Whitney Canada and Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. has announced the successful completion of the first transatlantic flight using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with both PW815GA engines on a Gulfstream business jet. Pratt & Whitney is an RTX business.

"Collaborating with airframe manufacturers such as Gulfstream is an important part of our long-standing efforts to ensure SAF compatibility across all our engines, which have already been certified to operate with up to 50% SAF blends for more than a decade," said Anthony Rossi, vice president of Sales & Marketing at Pratt & Whitney Canada. "With this transatlantic flight, we are effectively demonstrating both engine and aircraft functionality in a fully operational setting to support future specifications for 100% SAF, which will be critical to achieving a more sustainable future of net-zero CO2 emissions for aviation in the decades ahead. Future 100% SAF operational approval will add to the versatility, reliability, and fuel efficiency of the PW815GA engine to benefit Gulfstream and our customers."

OXCCU scores £2.8 Million UK Government grant to scale sustainable aviation fuel production

OXCCU secures share of UK government investment to transform carbon dioxide into sustainable aviation fuel 

OXCCU, a leading carbon-to-value company converting carbon dioxide and hydrogen into industrial and consumer products, has won a £2.8 million grant along with the University of Sheffield Translational Energy Research Centre (TERC) and Coryton. The capital will be used to demonstrate the world’s first direct carbon dioxide (CO2) hydrogenation process, turning CO2  directly into aviation fuel range hydrocarbons, also known as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).    

The project presents a novel approach to SAF production, directly converting CO2  and hydrogen (H2) to hydrocarbons - essentially creating jet fuel from thin air. OXCCU technology means that this traditionally multi-step process has been simplified to just a single step. A truly British innovation, the reactor will be located at the TERC and fed with biogenic CO2  captured from biomass combustion and H2  produced on site from electrolysis using green electricity. The fuel is then blended via Coryton to produce a fuel of Jet A-1 specification. 

As part of its aim to cement the UK’s status as a world leader in SAF, last month the UK Government announced new measures to support the industry, with a revenue certainty scheme to boost uptake and help create jobs. The Government has committed to having at least five commercial SAF plants under construction in the UK by 2025, viewing low or zero emission technologies as key to sustainability and net zero targets. 

Aviation still needs hydrocarbons but to achieve net zero, they need to be created without the use of fossil fuels. Traditional biofuels have well-known issues with scale due to limited feedstocks. In contrast, e-fuels or synthetic fuels based on CO2 have enormous potential to scale with fewer feedstock constraints but face challenges due to cost. OXCCU's patented technology consolidates the traditional e-hydrocarbons production process from two-steps, Reverse Water Gas Shift (RWGS) then Fischer-Tropsch, to a one-step direct hydrogenation process. This offers a radically cost-effective solution and opens up intriguing opportunities for the future of commercial aviation.

OXCCU CEO Andrew Symes said: “We’re proud to be part of the UK’s journey to cement itself as a leader in clean aviation and to help scale world-first technologies in sustainable aviation fuel. This new investment from the AFF will be a welcome contribution to our efforts to help the industry meet the high targets it has set.”

Available to customers as OXEFUEL, OXCCU’s sustainable aviation fuel is created by combining captured carbon dioxide and renewably-sourced green hydrogen through a novel iron-based catalyst, resulting in a more cost-effective and decarbonized alternative to fossil-based Jet A fuel for commercial airlines. Modelling completed by independent researchers from Imperial College London, through Imperial Consultants, has shown OXCCU’s one-step process significantly reduces SAF cost due to higher selectivity yield in the jet fuel range and a 50% lower capital cost.  

Creating jet fuel from thin air........

OXCCU secures share of UK government investment to transform carbon dioxide into sustainable aviation fuel 

OXCCU, a leading carbon-to-value company converting carbon dioxide and hydrogen into industrial and consumer products, has won a £2.8 million grant along with the University of Sheffield Translational Energy Research Centre (TERC) and Coryton. The capital will be used to demonstrate the world’s first direct carbon dioxide (CO2) hydrogenation process, turning CO2  directly into aviation fuel range hydrocarbons, also known as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).    

The project presents a novel approach to SAF production, directly converting CO2  and hydrogen (H2) to hydrocarbons - essentially creating jet fuel from thin air. OXCCU technology means that this traditionally multi-step process has been simplified to just a single step. A truly British innovation, the reactor will be located at the TERC and fed with biogenic CO2  captured from biomass combustion and H2  produced on site from electrolysis using green electricity. The fuel is then blended via Coryton to produce a fuel of Jet A-1 specification. 

As part of its aim to cement the UK’s status as a world leader in SAF, last month the UK Government announced new measures to support the industry, with a revenue certainty scheme to boost uptake and help create jobs. The Government has committed to having at least five commercial SAF plants under construction in the UK by 2025, viewing low or zero emission technologies as key to sustainability and net zero targets. 

Aviation still needs hydrocarbons but to achieve net zero, they need to be created without the use of fossil fuels. Traditional biofuels have well-known issues with scale due to limited feedstocks. In contrast, e-fuels or synthetic fuels based on CO2 have enormous potential to scale with fewer feedstock constraints but face challenges due to cost. OXCCU's patented technology consolidates the traditional e-hydrocarbons production process from two-steps, Reverse Water Gas Shift (RWGS) then Fischer-Tropsch, to a one-step direct hydrogenation process. This offers a radically cost-effective solution and opens up intriguing opportunities for the future of commercial aviation.

OXCCU CEO Andrew Symes said: “We’re proud to be part of the UK’s journey to cement itself as a leader in clean aviation and to help scale world-first technologies in sustainable aviation fuel. This new investment from the AFF will be a welcome contribution to our efforts to help the industry meet the high targets it has set.”

Available to customers as OXEFUEL, OXCCU’s sustainable aviation fuel is created by combining captured carbon dioxide and renewably-sourced green hydrogen through a novel iron-based catalyst, resulting in a more cost-effective and decarbonized alternative to fossil-based Jet A fuel for commercial airlines. Modelling completed by independent researchers from Imperial College London, through Imperial Consultants, has shown OXCCU’s one-step process significantly reduces SAF cost due to higher selectivity yield in the jet fuel range and a 50% lower capital cost.  

RTX's Pratt & Whitney Canada and Gulfstream successfully complete first 100% SAF transatlantic flight with G600 business jet powered by PW800 engines

Pioneering flight supports the aviation industry's goal of achieving net-zero CO2 emissions

Pratt & Whitney Canada and Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. has announced the successful completion of the first transatlantic flight using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with both PW815GA engines on a Gulfstream business jet. Pratt & Whitney is an RTX business.

"Collaborating with airframe manufacturers such as Gulfstream is an important part of our long-standing efforts to ensure SAF compatibility across all our engines, which have already been certified to operate with up to 50% SAF blends for more than a decade," said Anthony Rossi, vice president of Sales & Marketing at Pratt & Whitney Canada. "With this transatlantic flight, we are effectively demonstrating both engine and aircraft functionality in a fully operational setting to support future specifications for 100% SAF, which will be critical to achieving a more sustainable future of net-zero CO2 emissions for aviation in the decades ahead. Future 100% SAF operational approval will add to the versatility, reliability, and fuel efficiency of the PW815GA engine to benefit Gulfstream and our customers."

HydrogenPro Partner, DG Fuels announces strategic cooperation with Air France- KLM

HydrogenPro's collaborative partner, DG Fuels, recently announced the strategic cooperation with Air France – KLM. The latter has made an investment in DG Fuels "to support the completion of the development work necessary to reach the Final Investment decision".

HydrogenPro's collaborative partner, DG Fuels, announced on Friday, November 10th, the strategic cooperation with Air France – KLM. The latter has made an investment in DG Fuels "to support the completion of the development work necessary to reach the Final Investment decision". The group has invested USD 4.7 million in the SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) producer. HydrogenPro has been contracted as the supplier of electrolyzers for the plant in a potential 500 million USD deal, excluding life cycle services.

In addition to the investment Air France-KLM «acquired an option to purchase up to 25 million gallons / 75 000 tons of SAF annually over a multi-year period beginning in 2029. This option comes in addition to the long-term offtake contract announced by Air France-KLM and DG Fuels last year.

Compared to conventional fuel, the use of SAF can reduce emissions by an average of 80% and is considered more energy-efficient, providing airlines with operational advantages in addition to environmental benefits.

Norwegian to buy enough fossil-free aviation fuel to fly 100 flights between Aalborg and Copenhagen

Norwegian is to purchase fossil-free aviation fuel to power the equivalent of 100 flights between Aalborg and Copenhagen. The initiative proves that reducing the climate footprint of Danish aviation is already possible today.

The Danish government announced its goal to have one “green domestic route” in Denmark by 2025. Norwegian, together with Aalborg Airport, are proving that operating flights with fossil-free aviation fuel, also known as SAF, on a large scale is already possible today.

Aircraft today are limited to a 50 percent blend of fossil-free fuel and conventional aviation fuel. Due to this limitation Norwegian has chosen to purchase the amount of fuel needed for the 100 flights with fossil-free fuel and to have it delivered to Aalborg Airport’s facilities. This allows Norwegian to introduce fossil-free aviation fuel on Denmark’s busiest domestic route between Aalborg and Copenhagen. The initiative is another step towards the airline’s ambition to reduce emissions by 45 per cent before 2030. Earlier this year Norwegian announced that the airline had partnered with Norsk e-Fuel to build the world’s first full-scale electro-fuel plant.

Geir Karlsen, CEO of Norwegian, took part in the opening event at Aalborg Airport this week. “There has long been a focus on how domestic aviation in Denmark can make use of more sustainable aviation fuel, both in the short and long term. Our initiative to fly the equivalent of 100 fossil-free flights within Denmark is a strong demonstration that this is possible within the existing infrastructure today. However, in order to make fossil-free flights common practice by 2025, the availability of fossil-free aviation fuel needs to increase drastically from the limited amounts of fuel available today,” says Karlsen.

Aalborg Airport will receive its inaugural delivery of fossil-free fuel from DCC & Shell Aviation Denmark*. The consumption on the 100 flights equals a total of around 140 metric tons. The use of fossil-free fuel over the next two weeks corresponds to a reductions of Norwegian’s CO2 emission by up to 80 percent on the route between Aalborg and Copenhagen. Over the course of a year, Norwegian operates approximately 2,200 flights between Aalborg and Copenhagen, consuming around 3,000 metric tons of aviation fuel. If the equivalent amount of fossil-free aviation fuel were to be introduced on all flights over a year, carbon emissions would be reduced by close to 10,000 metric tons (from a life-cycle perspective).

Aalborg Airport will receive a direct supply of fossil-free fuel for the very first time as a result of the introduction of fossil-free aviation fuel on domestic flights between Aalborg and Copenhagen.

“Aalborg Airport is pleased that Norwegian has chosen us as a partner for this initiative. Sustainable aviation fuel is the future of all aviation. As an airport, we assist with the infrastructure in this project and expect that it can contribute to Denmark's first green domestic route also being set up from Aalborg Airport in 2025," says Niels Hemmingsen, Managing Director at Aalborg Airport.

Fossil-free aviation fuel – this is how it works

Fossil-free aviation fuels are also called Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). These fuels are a more sustainable alternative to fossil-based jet fuel. SAF is currently produced from bio waste and residual products, such as used cooking oil and animal fat. In the future, PtX-based SAF (Power-to-X) is expected to be able to produce significantly larger quantities, and even more sustainably, by converting electricity from solar and wind power into liquid forms of energy.

DCC & Shell Aviation Denmark are delivering approximately 140 metric tons of fossil-free fuel which is then blended with conventional jet fuel in accordance with current SAF blending rules. This delivery of fossil-free jet fuel is stored within Aalborg airport’s central fuel infrastructure and will be used by all aircraft using the airport’s fuel services.

By purchasing SAF needed for 100 flights between Aalborg and Copenhagen, the consumption of fossil fuel and thus carbon emissions are reduced. This is the most efficient way to fulfill the Danish government’s wish for a sustainable domestic aviation route.

*DCC & Shell Aviation Denmark is a Shell licensee and uses Shell trade marks under licence. The views expressed in this release or statement are made by DCC & Shell Aviation Denmark, and are not made on behalf of, nor do they necessarily reflect the views of, any company in the Shell Group of Companies.

The next big thing in sustainable aviation fuel.

There is no doubt that sustainable aviation fuel, commonly known as 'SAF; is a key ingredient in the future of the entire aviation industry. SAF are three little letters that are heavily featured in all the major airlines' sustainability, annual or ecological reports, yet there are big differences in how that fuel gets made.

Sustainable aviation fuel comes from various sources, mainly plant or animal materials including cooking oil and other non-palm waste oils from animals or plants; solid waste from homes and businesses, such as packaging, paper, textiles, and food scraps that would otherwise go into the ground at landfill sites or get burned incineration. Forestry waste, such as waste wood; and energy crops, including fast-growing plants and algae, can also be used to produce the SAF that every airline wants in order to fulfil the expectations of shareholders and customers. 

Some of the big players in this growing and somewhat lucrative industry have different methods:

Neste  - Neste is one of the largest producers of renewable diesel and SAF in the world and produces SAF by refining renewable diesel and using a hydrogenation process to convert it into SAF.

World Fuel Services /World Kinetic  -  World Energy is a major SAF player in the U.S. and has supplied SAF to some of the nation's biggest airlines including JetBlue, Delta and United. 

Alder Fuels -  Alder Fuels is developing a process to produce SAF from woody biomass.

Air bp -  Air bp has taken a portfolio approach by arranging deals with a number of third-party producers and investing in third-party production facilities.  Some of these suppliers make SAF from household waste and forestry waste. 

SkyNRG - SkyNRG is a leading supplier of SAF in Europe and has supplied SAF to airlines such as KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Finnair. SkyNRG produces its sustainable aviation fuel using a variety of feedstocks, including used cooking oil, waste animal fat, and residual streams from the forestry industry. The company has set out to build a self-sustaining network of regional supply chains, known as ‘Direct Supply.

OXCCU’s SAF is called OXEFUEL, created by combining captured carbon dioxide and renewably sourced green hydrogen using a novel iron-based catalyst. This innovative process results in a more cost-effective and decarbonised alternative to fossil-based Jet A fuel for commercial air travel. OXEFUEL has been independently tested and verified in collaboration with Imperial College London, finding that the novel process reduces the capital cost by 50%.

Their technology not only addresses the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions in the aviation sector but also offers a commercially viable solution that aligns with the global sustainability agenda. The OXCCU process has a very low energy input and high selectivity and can be easily programmed to produce high-value jet fuel and other products

OXCCU, a spinout from Oxford University has revolutionised the process of creating sustainable, economically efficient, and scalable Jet fuel in a groundbreaking one-step process. 

Co-Founder and CEO, Andrew Symes said: "At OXCCU, we've revolutionised the process of creating sustainable jet fuel from CO2 with our one-step process. Most people making SAF from CO2 today use a two-step process, which is costly. In our one-step conversion process, CO₂ can be transformed directly into jet-fuel range hydrocarbons, resulting in OXEFUEL—a cost-effective and decarbonised alternative to fossil-based jet fuel for commercial airlines.

This is where we can make a huge dent in aviation emissions and enable future generations to fly, hence it’s crucial for airlines to direct their efforts towards transitioning to SAF, in addition to improving fuel efficiency."

Potential for €2.55 billion Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Industry in Ireland by 2050

SAF Industry could provide up to 1,000 high-skilled jobsPolicy changes needed to help accelerate the pathway for SAF production. 

A feasibility study by SkyNRG and SFS Ireland, supported by Avolon, Boeing, ORIX Aviation

Ireland has the potential to develop a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry generating revenue of €2.55 billion by 2050 and providing up to 1,000 high-skilled jobs. These are the findings of a feasibility study into the production of SAF in Ireland produced by SkyNRG and SFS Ireland, in a partnership supported by Avolon, Boeing and ORIX Aviation.

 

The study - Ireland’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Opportunity - was launched today by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney TD, and looks at the key role SAF will play in helping the aviation industry achieve its net zero goal by 2050. IATA estimates that SAF, which can be used to replace traditional jet fuel, will deliver over 60% of the contribution needed to reduce aviation emissions to reach net zero by 2050. The European Union’s ReFuelEU initiative obligates fuel suppliers to blend SAF into the fuel available at all EU airports, rising from 6% SAF by 2030, to 70% by 2050.

 

To meet EU mandated SAF volumes alone, Ireland will require approximately 10 SAF plants of 80 kilo tonnes production capacity each. This would create an Irish SAF sector generating revenue of €2.55 billion per annum and could provide up to 1,000 high-skilled jobs in direct and indirect employment. Further export opportunities could significantly increase these numbers.

 

The research finds that the biggest opportunity for Ireland lies in Power to Liquid (PtL) production of eSAF, a synthetic fuel produced by combining green hydrogen (extracted through electrolysis from water using renewable energy) with biogenic CO₂. SAF derived from bio-based intermediates like renewable natural gas has potential to scale up more rapidly to fulfill the advanced biofuels portion of the ReFuelEU mandate.

 

Significant progress is required for Ireland to be able to develop eSAF at scale, particularly to ensure there is enough excess renewable power available to produce hydrogen in the required quantities. The increased levels of offshore wind power generation that Government initiatives are targeting by 2030 will put the country in a stronger position to develop a domestic SAF industry.

 

Key policy initiatives the research recommends to be prioritised by the Government and other stakeholders include:

·         Targets: Include sustainable aviation in climate action plans to strengthen Ireland’s position as a renewable fuel aviation hub.

 

·         Incentivise: Incentivising mechanisms are crucial for a viable PtL business case to stimulate the development of both SAF and hydrogen: capital allowances, tax credits, guaranteed minimum pricing, investment incentives (e.g. via EII or SCI schemes).

 

·         Research and Development: Funding and promotion of SAF technologies leveraging Ireland’s third-level institutions and Government entities such as Enterprise Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland and SEAI.

 

·         Reforming planning process: Implement a comprehensive and systematic approach in the planning process for SAF production plants, taking into account the potential for future energy parks and circular economy development in Ireland.

 

·         Storage and transport: Invest in hydrogen storage and transport, and solving the electricity congestion issues through more flexible use / development of the grid.

 

• Collaboration: Collaboration between public and private sector is critical to mobilise the required investment. Cross-departmental Government relationships are also essential (DECC, DOT, DAFM) to ensure comprehensive policy framework.

Nabucco, revolutionary wings for sustainable aviation

Professor Bisagni was awarded an ERC Advanced Grant for the NABUCCO project.

                                              Aircraft capable of changing their shape during different flight conditions, addressing two of the most important challenges for the future of sustainable aviation: weight reduction and increased efficiency. These are the challenges of the NABUCCO research project by Professor Chiara Bisagnifrom the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology at Politecnico di Milano.

NABUCCO develops radically new concepts of adaptive composite structures, ie those capable of changing their shape, by exploiting the phenomenon of structural instability, to be applied to next-generation aircraft. In aeronautics, structural buckling is generally avoided as it can instantly generate large deformations and even cause a catastrophic collapse.

Conversely, NABUCCO no longer sees structural instability as a phenomenon to be avoided, but as a design opportunity to be explored for its revolutionary potential. The idea is to use the disadvantages of instability in a positive way to conceive, design and build composite structures - and in particular adaptive wings. Professor Chiara Bisagni will develop new design, analysis and optimisation methods based on analytical formulations, neural network algorithms and an integrated, multidisciplinary design approach.

DHL Express and World Energy agree to global partnership to speed up aviation decarbonization

DHL Express and World Energy, a leading SAF producer and low-carbon solutions provider, have signed a long-term strategic agreement to accelerate the decarbonization of aviation logistics through the purchase of approx. 668 million liters of Sustainable Aviation Fuel via sustainable aviation fuel certificates (SAFc). The seven-year contract, to run through 2030, is the one of the longest and largest SAFc agreements in the aviation industry to date.

The agreement is expected to reduce approx. 1.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions over the aviation fuel lifecycle – this is equivalent to handling the approximately 77,000 annual aircraft movements of DHL Express in the Americas carbon neutrally for a full year. The milestone agreement is further testament to DHL Group's ambitious Sustainability Roadmap, which includes the goal to reduce the Group's annual greenhouse gas emissions to below 29 million tonnes CO2e in 2030 across scopes 1, 2 and 3.

"DHL Express is firmly dedicated to pioneering a sustainable future in aviation logistics," said John Pearson, CEO DHL Express. "By partnering with World Energy and confirming this milestone agreement, we are taking another concrete leap towards minimizing our carbon footprint and contributing to a more sustainable future. We want to inspire more suppliers to accelerate industry-wide production and adoption of SAF."

United to buy 1 billion gallons of sustainable aviation fuel ......

Cemvita Corporation announced an offtake arrangement with United Airlines for up to 1 billion gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from Cemvita’s first full-scale SAF plant. Under the agreement, signed by Cemvita and United Airlines, Cemvita will supply United Airlines up to 50 million gallons annually for 20 years of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) made from CO2.

“Since our initial investment last year, Cemvita has made outstanding progress, including opening their new pilot plant – an important step towards producing sustainable aviation fuel,” said United Airlines Ventures President Michael Leskinen. “United is the global aviation leader in SAF production investment, but we face a real shortage of available fuel and producers. Cemvita’s technology represents a path forward for a potentially significant supply of SAF and it’s our hope that this offtake agreement for up to one billion gallons is just the beginning of our collaboration.”

Game Changing Technologies: Commercialized SAF is currently made from used cooking oil and agricultural waste. Cemvita's technology has the potential to provide more reliable feedstock production with minimal land, water, and electricity needs. Furthermore, the output of eCO2 plants has the potential to be carbon-negative and Cemvita is aiming to be cost competitive with existing crop based HEFA feedstocks and fuels, which is a crucial factor for the successful adoption of any new biomanufacturing process.