Aemetis to Supply British Airways and Aer Lingus with Sustainable Aviation Fuel

(30 August 2022, 10:50 +07)  Aemetis has signed a multi-year agreement with International Airlines Group (IAG) to supply sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to help power British Airways and Aer Lingus’ flights from San Francisco Airport, effective 2025.

IAG, parent company of both British Airways and Aer Lingus, will purchase a total of 78,400 tonnes of SAF over seven years, enough to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 248,000 tonnes (the equivalent of taking over 16,000 cars off the road) across the same time period.

Eric McAfee, Chairman and CEO of Aemetis, said, “Sustainable aviation fuel continues to be shown to be a great solution to decarbonize aviation and can be used in existing aircraft engines. IAG is continuing to take a leadership position by the conversion of their fuel supply to the use of sustainable fuels. Our production of SAF in California is supported by the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard, creating new investment and jobs in disadvantaged minority communities in the state.”

Refueling an aircraft. Picture by Steven Howard of TravelNewsAsia.com

The SAF will be produced at the Aemetis Carbon Zero plant currently under development in Riverbank, California. The plant will be powered by 100% renewable electricity and is designed to sequester CO2 from the production process, significantly reducing the carbon intensity of the fuel.

Jonathon Counsell, Head of Sustainability at IAG, said, “SAF is key to decarbonizing aviation and IAG has to date committed $865 million in SAF purchases and investments. We see great potential to develop a long-term partnership with Aemetis who is at the cutting edge of producing low carbon biofuels from sustainable wastes.”

In the short-term British Airways is committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by improving operational efficiency, flying more fuel efficient aircraft, funding carbon offset and removal projects to mitigate emissions on UK domestic flights, and progressively introducing sustainable aviation fuels manufactured using carbon capture technology and waste feedstocks. In the medium to longer term the airline is continuing to invest in the development and scale up of sustainable aviation fuel and accelerating the growth of new technologies such as zero emissions hydrogen-powered aircraft and carbon capture technology.

Aer Lingus is also committed to a lower-carbon future. A key focus of delivering Aer Lingus’ sustainability programme, in addition to SAF, is investment in new generation and more fuel-efficient aircraft such as the Airbus A320neo and A321neo LR. Other significant efforts include establishing a robust carbon offsetting programme, driving operational fuel efficiencies, waste reduction and electrifying our ground operations fleet.

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