Boeing makes largest purchase of blended SAF

Boeing is buying 9.4 million gallons (35.6 million litres) of blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to support its 2024 U.S. commercial operations, reducing its carbon emissions and working to help grow the supply of the fuel globally.

This is the company's largest annual SAF purchase, more than 60 percent higher than its purchase in 2023, says an official release.

"The blended fuel – 30 percent SAF made from waste by-products such as fats, oils, and greases and 70 percent conventional jet fuel – will support the Boeing ecoDemonstrator program and Boeing U.S. commercial operational flights."

Ryan Faucett, Vice President, Environmental Sustainability, Boein says: "As our focus remains on safety and quality, sustainability continues to be a priority. Sustainable aviation fuel is essential to decarbonise aviation. About 20 percent 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."

Unblended, or neat SAF, can reduce carbon emissions up to 85 percent over the fuel's life cycle, and offers the commercial aviation industry's greatest potential to reduce its climate impact over the next 30 years, the release added.

Boeing will receive four million gallons of the blended SAF into its fuel farms in the Pacific Northwest. EPIC Fuels, a Signature Aviation company, will supply 2.5 million gallons from Neste, and Avfuel will provide 1.5 million gallons of blended SAF from Neste, the release added.

"Boeing will also purchase the CO2 emissions reduction associated with 5.4 million gallons of blended SAF through an accounting process called book-and-claim. Book-and-claim is when a company purchases SAF certificates to displace conventional jet fuel. Instead of putting the fuel into a Boeing fuel farm, distributors will deliver it to nearby airports for use by airlines and other carriers.

"Through Boeing's book-and-claim purchases, EPIC Fuels will supply 3.5 million gallons of blended SAF made by Neste, while World Fuel Services, a World Kinect company, will supply 1.9 million gallons from World Energy."

Carrie Song, Senior Vice President, Commercial, Renewable Products, Neste says: “Sustainable aviation fuel is a key lever to reduce aviation emissions. Working together with aviation sector leaders like Boeing is crucial in accelerating SAF usage and production. We are proud to support their efforts working together with our partners EPIC Fuels and Avfuel."