Qatar Airways and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) producer Gevo, Inc. signed an offtake agreement. On the basis of the agreement the airline will purchase 95 million liters of neat SAF over five years with deliveries expected to start in 2028 at various airports in California.
Qatar Airways will be uplifting 19 million liters of neat SAF every year and will blend it with its existing supply of conventional jet fuel. The airline became the first airline in the Middle East and Africa region to announce its commitment to an international SAF offtake agreement.
Masdar Acquires Arlington Energy to Boost Renewable Energy Market
SAF is one of the pillars in Qatar Airways and oneworld’s plan to reach net zero emissions by 2050. In September 2020, oneworld became the first global airline alliance to unite behind a common target to achieve carbon neutrality with net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The alliance subsequently committed to a target of 10% sustainable aviation fuel use across the alliance by 2030 and the SAF to be purchased will be certified under the sustainability criteria laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Compared with fossil-based jet fuel, SAF results in the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions across its lifecycle. Today’s technology allows for CO2 reductions from the use of SAF to reach 85% when compared to conventional jet fuel.
His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, said: "Qatar Airways continues to prioritise our commitment to net-zero flying by the middle of this century. Decarbonising aviation requires a gradual incorporation of lower carbon and sustainable aviation fuels, and we are proud to collaborate on this global effort for a better future.
"Joining forces with fellow oneworld members, we are supporting Gevo to establish its SAF-producing facilities in order to ramp up SAF supply and get closer to our goal of replacing 10% of our conventional jet fuel with SAF by 2030.”
Read more: Aramco Sets Up Sustainability Fund to Support Energy Transition