Emirates and Shell Sign Agreement for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Supply in Dubai
Emirates recently announced a landmark agreement with Shell Aviation to supply over 300,000 gallons of blended Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for use at Dubai International Airport (DXB). The strategic move marks the first-ever delivery of SAF through the DXB airport fueling system, underscoring Emirates’ commitment to environmental sustainability.
According to a company announcement, the agreement is the latest step forward taken by Emirates as part of its environmental strategy that focuses on three areas: emissions reduction, responsible consumption, and the conservation of wildlife and habitats.
The airline aims to track SAF delivery and usage data through Avelia, a pioneering blockchain-powered SAF solution developed by Shell Aviation and Accenture, with support from Energy Web and American Express Global Business Travel.
Through Avelia, Emirates will purchase physical SAF and associated environmental attributes to decarbonize its Scope 1 emissions, while Shell Corporate Travel will acquire the corresponding Scope 3 environmental attributes to decarbonize its business travel. This collaborative approach highlights the potential of book and claim solutions to share the environmental benefits of SAF across the aviation industry.
“Aviation plays a vital role in Dubai and the wider UAE economy, and we look forward to continuing to collaborate with like-minded organizations and government entities to introduce more SAF into the aviation fuel supply chain,” said Emirates Airlines President Sir Tim Clark.
Chu Yong-Yi, Vice President of Shell Corporate Travel, highlighted the importance of this milestone in the UAE aviation industry, adding that “enabling SAF to be supplied at DXB for the first time is an important milestone and a perfect example of how the different parts of the aviation value chain can contribute to progress on SAF.”
SAF, a certified drop-in fuel compatible with existing aircraft and airport infrastructure, can be blended with conventional jet fuel at a ratio of up to 50 percent. In its pure form, SAF can reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 80 percent compared to conventional jet fuel.
Emirates’ commitment to SAF is not new. The airline conducted its first SAF-powered demonstration flight in the region earlier this year and has been actively engaged in industry and government initiatives to promote SAF production and supply in the UAE.