Emirates Launches Sustainable Aviation Fuel Initiative At London Heathrow
Emirates has announced that it has received sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from Shell Aviation at London Heathrow Airport. This marks the first time that the airline will be using SAF to power some of its flights at London Heathrow and represents the largest volume of SAF it has purchased to date.
Over 3,000 metric tonnes of neat SAF, blended with conventional jet fuel, will be supplied into the fuelling infrastructure network of the airport until the end of summer 2024. Emirates is participating in London Heathrow's SAF Incentive Programme, which ensures the affordability and accessibility of SAF for airlines operating at the airport.
SAF is a type of fuel made from renewable sources, such as plant-based feedstocks and waste materials. It has the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions compared to conventional jet fuel. In its neat form, SAF can reduce lifecycle carbon emissions by up to 80%. This move by Emirates is part of its ongoing efforts to reduce its environmental impact and promote sustainability in the aviation industry.
Emirates will be accounting for, tracking, and tracing the delivery of SAF at London Heathrow, as well as its sustainability attributes, through robust reporting methodologies. The SAF purchased from Shell Aviation will be safely dropped into existing airport fuelling infrastructure and aircraft jet engines.Adel Al Redha, Deputy President and Chief Operations Officer of Emirates Airline, expressed the airline's eagerness to take this next step in their SAF journey. He highlighted the support of Shell Aviation and London Heathrow in making this fuel supply arrangement possible. Al Redha also emphasized the importance of the SAF Incentive Programme in making SAF more commercially viable for airlines like Emirates.
Emirates' SAF strategy focuses on exploring opportunities to use SAF operationally wherever it is available in the airline's network. The airline also aims to share emissions costs with corporate customers or freight forwarders where feasible and cooperate on longer-term SAF projects with reputable partners. Additionally, Emirates plans to support SAF ventures in the UAE with the potential to supply Sustainable Aviation Fuel at its hub.
Raman Ojha, President of Shell Aviation, expressed pleasure in continuing their support for Emirates' sustainability journey by enabling the airline to decarbonize flights out of the UK. He also highlighted the progress in the growth of their global SAF supply network. Shell Aviation aims to work with forward-thinking players in the aviation industry, like Emirates and London Heathrow, to make SAF available in more locations around the world.
Ross Baker, Chief Commercial Officer of Heathrow, expressed excitement in supporting Emirates with Heathrow's Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) scheme. SAF is crucial to decarbonizing long-haul flights, as it can cut carbon on routes without the need for new aircraft or infrastructure. Baker expects to support the use of up to 155,000 tonnes of SAF at Heathrow this year, thanks to commitments from airlines like Emirates. He emphasized the need to ramp up SAF production in the UK to benefit from jobs, growth, and energy security as more airlines make the switch to sustainable fuels.
The SAF Incentive Programme at London Heathrow was launched in 2022. It is the first of its kind and provides a support mechanism to reduce the premium price gap between conventional jet fuel and SAF by approximately 50%. The scheme aims to accelerate supportive government policies and increase the UK's competitiveness by unlocking investment in clean energy investments like SAF production.Emirates has been making significant progress in its efforts to promote sustainability in the aviation industry. Last year, the airline collaborated with Shell Aviation to supply SAF into Dubai Airport fuelling systems for the first time ever. Emirates currently operates flights from Amsterdam, Paris, Lyon, and Oslo with SAF. In May of this year, the airline plans to work with local partners at Singapore Changi Airport for the supply of SAF through the airport's fuelling systems.
Furthermore, Emirates became the first international carrier to join the Solent Cluster in the UK earlier this year. The Solent Cluster is an initiative focused on low carbon investments and aims to create a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) plant that can produce up to 200,000 tonnes per year if operational by 2032. The collaboration includes manufacturers, engineering companies, regional businesses, logistics and infrastructure operators, and academic institutions.
Emirates has been operating to the UK since 1987 and currently serves seven gateways with 131 weekly flights. The airline is committed to reducing its environmental impact and promoting sustainability in the aviation industry. This latest development of using sustainable aviation fuel at London Heathrow is a significant step towards achieving these goals.
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