Boeing has announced its largest-ever purchase of blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), totaling 9.4 million gallons (35.6 million liters). This initiative, aimed at supporting its 2024 U.S. commercial operations, signifies a significant step towards reducing carbon emissions and fostering global supply growth of eco-friendly aviation fuel.
Compared to its 2023 purchase, this year’s acquisition marks a remarkable increase of over 60%. The blended fuel consists of 30% SAF derived from waste by-products such as fats, oils, and greases, with the remaining 70% being conventional jet fuel. This blend will not only bolster Boeing’s ecoDemonstrator program but also power its U.S. commercial operational flights.
“As our focus remains on safety and quality, sustainability continues to be a priority. Sustainable aviation fuel is essential to decarbonize aviation. About 20% of our fuel usage is a SAF blend, and 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,” according to Ryan Faucett, Vice President of Environmental Sustainability at Boeing.
Unblended SAF, often termed “neat” SAF, has the potential to slash carbon emissions by up to 85% throughout its life cycle, making it a crucial component in the aviation industry’s efforts to mitigate its climate impact over the next three decades.
Boeing’s procurement strategy involves receiving 4 million gallons of the blended SAF directly into its fuel farms in the Pacific Northwest. EPIC Fuels, a subsidiary of Signature Aviation, will be responsible for supplying 2.5 million gallons sourced from Neste, while Avfuel will contribute 1.5 million gallons of blended SAF from the same supplier.
The aircraft manufacturer is committed to offsetting the CO2 emissions linked with 5.4 million gallons of blended SAF through a process known as book-and-claim. Under this mechanism, the company purchases SAF certificates to replace conventional jet fuel. Instead of storing the fuel in Boeing’s fuel farm, distributors will deliver it to nearby airports for utilization by airlines and other carriers.
Through these book-and-claim transactions, EPIC Fuels is set to provide 3.5 million gallons of blended SAF sourced from Neste, while World Fuel Services, a subsidiary of World Kinect, will supply an additional 1.9 million gallons procured from World Energy.
Boeing’s substantial investment in sustainable aviation fuel not only underscores its commitment to reducing its environmental footprint but also sets a significant precedent for the aviation industry’s transition towards greener practices.