American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) and Shell Aviation have extended their agreement with Google to source environmental attribute information relating to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through Avelia. They aim to scale the production of SAF.
The Google agreement leverages data from Avelia to enable access to verified emissions reductions regardless of physical fuel availability.
A ‘book and claim’ model for SAF enables businesses to access the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions reduction benefits of SAF compared to conventional jet fuel.
That’s also possible when SAF is not physically available at a departure airport, provided that the SAF is injected into the aviation fueling system elsewhere.
Avelia brings together airlines and businesses worldwide to bridge the gap between a concentrated SAF supply and a dispersed demand. So far, 66 corporations and airlines have joined.
Environmental attributes information is tracked and allocated through blockchain on Avelia’s SAF registry.
The technology provides a long-term demand signal to SAF producers, helping drive supply growth. It also supports Google’s efforts to reduce aviation emissions through sustained SAF investment.
Corporate demand is essential to scaling SAF production, sending the market signals producers need to invest and expand supply.
Vrushali Gaud, Global Director of Climate Operations at Google, said: “Sustainable aviation fuel represents a critical unlock for decarbonising the hard-to-abate aviation sector and we recognise the importance of long-term agreements to increase demand and expand its availability. We view this as a key opportunity to support the broader ecosystem through this book and claim effort, while making progress towards reducing our own aviation emissions.”
Raman Ojha, President, Shell Aviation, said: “Advancing SAF takes collective effort across the entire aviation ecosystem. Google’s extended commitment provides important financial signals for the SAF ecosystem and supports the development and deployment of SAF at large. We’re excited to continue this work with a company that leads with action and ambition.”
Andrew Crawley, President, American Express Global Business Travel, said: “Corporate demand and investment are essential to growing the SAF industry. By extending this key collaboration, we are continuing to build a more resilient and lower-carbon future for our industry.”
Additionally, the new SAF Index from Amex GBT reveals that SAF production has increased 24-fold since 2021. That represents a reduction in lifecycle emissions of up to 80%.
