Shell Aviation and SkyNRG have commenced the supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to international airlines KLM, SAS and Finnair at San Francisco Airport (SFO). The fuel is produced by World Energy, currently the only SAF refinery worldwide. The initial phase of the arrangement aims to pave the way for longer term, more resilient supply chains for sustainable aviation fuels and reduce the carbon emissions of flights from SFO and other airports. Following May’s agreement, Shell Aviation is the first major fuel supplier to support SFO in its ambition to expand the use of sustainable aviation fuel in its operations.
“With our focus on achieving zero net energy, carbon neutrality and zero waste, we are setting bold goals for our airport, and our industry,” said SFO Airport director Ivar C. Satero. “Shell Aviation, World Energy, SkyNRG, KLM, SAS and Finnair have partnered to take an important first step towards this goal. We thank this entire team for leading the way in reducing carbon emissions in air transportation and at SFO.”
This initiative responds to the aviation industry’s ambitious targets, including the cap on net aviation CO2 emissions from 2020 and is a clear sign of commitment by those involved. “The aviation industry faces a formidable challenge; how to grow safely and responsibly given the expected doubling of passenger numbers by 2037,” says Anne Anderson, vice-president Shell Aviation. “At Shell Aviation we are proud to be leading the response. The supply of SAF to San Francisco airport brings together all parts of the sustainable aviation fuel value chain and embodies the spirit of collaboration that is essential to delivering a low carbon future for the industry.”
The SAF sourced by SkyNRG from World Energy’s Paramount refinery in Los Angeles is made from used cooking oil, resulting in a fuel that has significantly lower lifecycle carbon emissions than conventional jet fuel. In general, sustainable aviation fuel has a reduction potential of 60-80%, compared to conventional jet fuel. The SAF is supplied through the existing SFO refuelling infrastructure and can be used by airlines without requiring technical modification to their current fleets.
“In the transition towards a sustainable aviation industry it is the partnerships and cooperation that make a difference,” Jurriaan de Jonge, director of Fuel Supply & Risk Management from KLM says. “KLM, SkyNRG and World Energy have been doing that successfully for years at LAX. We look forward to seeing the developments at SFO and supporting Shell and SkyNRG in their efforts.”