Aemetis, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMTX) today reported a multi-year deal with International Airlines Group (IAG) to provide sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to assist in powering both British Airways and Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus flights from San Francisco Airport beginning in 2025.
IAG, the parent company of both Aer Lingus and British Airways, will buy 78,400 tonnes of SAF over seven years, reducing CO2 emissions by up to 248,000 tonnes (the equivalent of removing nearly 16,000 vehicles off the road).
“Sustainable aviation fuel continues to be proved to be a wonderful option to decarbonize aviation and can be utilized in current aircraft engines,” stated Eric McAfee, Chairman and CEO of Aemetis. IAG maintains its leading position by converting its fuel source to sustainable fuels. The California Low Carbon Fuel Standard supports our SAF manufacturing in California, resulting in additional investment and jobs in the state’s disadvantaged minority areas.”
The SAF will be manufactured in the Aemetis Carbon Zero factory, which is currently under construction in Riverbank, California as reported by Pressreach. This factory will be fueled by 100% renewable electricity and is designed to sequester CO2 from the manufacturing process, lowering the carbon intensity of the fuel substantially.
“SAF is critical to decarbonizing aviation,” said Jonathon Counsell, Head of Sustainability at IAG. “IAG has committed $865 million in SAF purchases and investments.” We see significant potential for a long-term collaboration with Aemetis, which is at the forefront of manufacturing low-carbon biofuels from sustainable waste.”
International Airlines Group was the world’s first airline group to pledge to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and the first European airline company to promise to utilize SAF for 10% of its fuel by 2030.
British Airways is dedicated to reaching net zero carbon emissions through various short, medium, and long-term activities as part of its BA Better World sustainability program. In the short term, this entails increasing operational efficiency, flying more fuel-efficient aircraft, funding carbon offset and removal projects to reduce emissions on UK domestic flights, and gradually introducing sustainable aviation fuels made from carbon capture technology and waste feedstocks. In the medium to long term, the airline will continue to invest in developing and scaling up sustainable aviation fuel, as well as accelerate the development of new technologies such as zero-emission hydrogen-powered aircraft and carbon capture technology.
Aer Lingus is dedicated to achieving a lower-carbon future. Along with SAF, investing in new generation and more fuel-efficient aircraft like the Airbus A320neo and A32l neo-LR is a primary emphasis of achieving Aer Lingus’ sustainability agenda. Other key measures include:
- Building a strong carbon offsetting program.
- Increasing operating fuel savings.
- Reducing waste.
- Electrifying our ground operations fleet.
Featured Image: Megapixl @Mohammedsoliman4
