Neste and Airbus share a vision that SAF is a key solution in providing assistance to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of air travel.
Neste, an oil refining and marketing company located in Finland has signed an agreement with Airbus to increase the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) within the aviation sector. Both companies share a vision that SAF is a key solution in assisting to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of air travel. Neste and Airbus with this collaboration aim to accelerate the process of the aviation sector’s transition to SAF.
Reaching the aviation industry’s ambitious “net zero carbon emissions by 2050” goal will require different measures to be deployed, including fuel-efficient aircraft technologies, improved operations and ground infrastructures, as well as deployment of sustainable aviation fuel.
“Neste is at the forefront of accelerating the aviation sector’s journey to a more sustainable future. That journey requires cooperation across the industry’s value chain. This collaboration with Airbus connects a pioneer in the aerospace industry with a leader in renewable fuels. The combined knowledge and expertise of the companies will help advance the use and availability of SAF as a means of transitioning aviation towards more sustainable energy sources and reducing the climate impact of aviation,” said Thorsten Lange, Executive Vice President of Renewable Aviation, Neste.
Neste and Airbus have recognized one of the biggest challenges in accelerating SAF use is the ramp-up of SAF production. This collaboration is laying the foundation for Airbus and Neste to explore business opportunities together and jointly promote the production and use of sustainable aviation fuel. The focus will be on the technical development of SAF, fuel approval and testing of current and future production technologies, and investigating how “100% SAF” use can be enabled.
The agreement between Neste and Airbus builds on the cooperation in the ECLIF3 research project, the world’s first in-flight emissions study using 100% SAF on a wide-body commercial passenger aircraft, with Rolls-Royce and German research centre DLR. Following their collaboration in the ECLIF3 project, Airbus and Neste will be further working on the technical aspects of the challenge to reach 100% SAF certification.
“At Airbus, we believe SAF is one of aerospace’s most promising decarbonisation solutions that can be used in both in-service aircraft fleets and those of tomorrow. We are proud to partner with Neste and drive forward the development and uptake of SAF, stimulating the creation of a commercially viable market for renewable aviation fuels,” says Julie Kitcher, EVP Communications, Sustainability and Corporate Affairs, Airbus. “All Airbus aircraft are already certified for flying with up to 50% SAF, and this partnership will be instrumental to reaching certification for 100% SAF by the end of the decade,” She further added.
SAF delivers the performance of conventional jet fuel but with a significantly smaller carbon footprint on a life cycle basis. Using Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% over the fuel’s life cycle compared to using fossil jet fuel.
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Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel is produced from sustainably sourced 100% renewable waste and residue raw materials, including used cooking oil and animal fat waste. Before use, SAF is blended with conventional jet fuel and works seamlessly with existing fueling infrastructure and aircraft engines.
