Emirates and Shell Partner on SAF Supply
Emirates has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Shell Aviation, ushering in a new era of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) usage at its international hub in Dubai (DXB).
Under this agreement, Emirates is set to receive more than 3,00,000 gallons of blended SAF, with the first delivery anticipated by year-end. This marks a historic moment, as it will be the first instance of SAF being integrated into DXB's airport fuelling system.
This collaboration represents the latest stride in Emirates' unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship, as outlined in its three-pronged strategy encompassing emissions reduction, responsible consumption, and preserving wildlife and habitats.
As part of this groundbreaking pact, Emirates will meticulously monitor SAF deliveries and usage data through Avelia, a pioneering blockchain-powered SAF solution.
Developed in partnership with Shell Aviation and Accenture, with support from Energy Web and American Express Global Business Travel, Avelia will enable Emirates to procure physical SAF and its associated environmental attributes to mitigate Scope 1emissions.
Simultaneously, Shell Corporate Travel will acquire the Scope 3 environmental attributes tied to the same SAF to decarbonise its business travel. This innovative approach using Avelia underscores how book and claim solutions can facilitate the equitable sharing of SAF's environmental benefits among airlines and corporations.
Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, expressed pride in the partnership, highlighting the milestone achievement of making SAF readily available in Dubai and the flexibility the Avelia platform provides for aligning sustainability goals.
He emphasised the need for ongoing collaboration to secure a consistent supply of SAF in the Emirates' hub, given the current lack of production facilities in the UAE. Sir Tim emphasised aviation's pivotal role in the UAE economy and the airline's dedication to reducing emissions.
Chu Yong-Yi, Vice President of Shell Corporate Travel, lauded the collaboration as a significant step forward for the UAE's aviation industry and a catalyst for SAF adoption across the region. This partnership signifies the aviation value chain's collective commitment to advancing SAF usage and driving progress toward net-zero emissions.
SAF stands out as a safe, certified drop-in fuel compatible with existing aircraft fleets and airport infrastructure. It can be blended with traditional jet fuel at ratios of up to 50%, resulting in aviation fuel with significantly lower lifecycle carbon emissions. In its pure form, SAF can reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel.
Emirates' commitment to SAF is not new, with the airline having completed its first 100% SAF-powered demonstration flight in the region earlier this year. Their journey with SAF began in 2017 when they operated a flight from Chicago on a Boeing 777 blended with SAF. The airline also utilises blended SAF for flights from Stockholm, Paris, Lyon, and Oslo.
Emirates actively engages in industry and government initiatives, collaborating on the production and supply scaling of SAF. The airline contributed to the UAE's Power-to-Liquid (PtL) fuels roadmap, in partnership with the UAE GCAA, as well as the UAE's National Sustainable Aviation Fuel Roadmap launched in 2023, demonstrating its commitment to sustainable aviation.
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Source: Emirates
