Biofuels firm Aemetis has signed a multi-year agreement with the International Airlines Group (IAG), parent company of British Airways and Irish airline Aer Lingus, to supply these airlines with sustainable aviation fuel from the San Francisco Airport beginning in 2025.
IAG will buy 78,400 tons of SAF over seven years, which reportedly will help reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 248,000 tons.
The SAF supplied by Aemetis will be produced at its Aemetis Carbon Zero plant, which is being built at Riverbank, California. The plant is powered by 100% renewable electricity and sequesters CO2 from the production process. This means the carbon intensity of the SAF produced is reduced.
“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.”
IAG aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and intends to use SAF for 10% of its fuel requirements by 2030.
British Airways has set short-, medium- and long-term initiatives to achieve net zero carbon emissions. Short-term plans include using fuel efficient aircraft, funding carbon offset and removal projects and boosting operational efficiency. Medium- and long-term goals include scaling up SAF and developing new technologies, like zero emissions hydrogen-powered aircraft and carbon capture technology.
Aer Lingus intends to invest in more fuel-efficient aircraft such as the Airbus A320neo and A32l neo LR, establish a carbon offsetting program and driving fuel efficiencies as part of its sustainability program.
