Emirates recently inked a deal with Shell Aviation to supply over 300,000 gallons of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) at its international hub in Dubai. This marks the first time SAF will flow through the fueling system at Dubai Airport, with the first delivery set to happen before the end of this year.
A Blockchain-Powered Green Initiative
Emirates will use Avelia, a blockchain-powered SAF solution, to monitor SAF delivery and usage. Shell Aviation and Accenture developed Avelia, and it’s backed by Energy Web and American Express Global Business Travel. This platform allows Emirates to buy the physical SAF and its environmental attributes, helping to cut down its Scope 1 emissions.
Shell Corporate Travel will purchase the Scope 3 environmental attributes tied to the same SAF to offset its business travel emissions.
Tim Clark, President of Emirates said, “We are proud to work in partnership with Shell to make a SAF supply available for Emirates in Dubai for the first time, and to utilize the Avelia platform that provides business travelers the flexibility to align their sustainability targets and reduce their environmental footprint when traveling.”
The Bigger Picture for Emirates and SAF
This SAF agreement is part of Emirates’ broader environmental strategy, which zeroes in on emissions reduction, responsible consumption, and wildlife and habitat conservation. The airline has been active in various industry and UAE government working groups to scale up SAF production and supply.
Last year, Emirates even contributed to the UAE’s Power-to-Liquid (PtL) Fuels roadmap, in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and the World Economic Forum.
Chu Yong-Yi, Vice President of Shell Corporate Travel, said, “This agreement marks a step forward for the aviation industry in the UAE. Enabling SAF to be supplied at DXB for the first time is an important milestone.”
SAF’s Compatibility and Previous Milestones
SAF is a safe and fully certified fuel that can mix with conventional jet fuel up to a 50% ratio. This blend significantly lowers the carbon emissions throughout its lifecycle. Emirates isn’t new to SAF; the airline successfully completed the region’s first 100% SAF-powered demonstration flight earlier this year. They’ve also been using SAF blends for flights from various cities like Paris, Lyon, and Oslo.
Emirates and Shell Aviation are joining forces to bring more than 300,000 gallons of SAF to Dubai’s international hub. This move is part of Emirates’ ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability, and it’s set to kick off before the year ends. With the help of Avelia, a blockchain-powered platform, both companies aim to share the environmental benefits of SAF and make a meaningful impact on reducing carbon emissions.
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