INTERVIEW WITH ...
Corporate interest in this solution has been growing – last year professional services firm Aon became the first Amex GBT client to join the platform , and Bank of America has become the most recent corporate customer .
Q . HOW IMPORTANT IS SECTORAL AND CROSS- SECTOR COLLABORATION IN FACILITATING GREATER SAF ADOPTION ? SAF is an incredible solution , available today , compatible with existing airport infrastructure and aircraft fleets , and capable of reducing lifecycle emissions by up to 80 % compared with conventional jet fuel when used neat . But we ’ re facing an impasse in scaling SAF and a consolidated effort across the value chain is required to scale SAF .
That ’ s why Shell Aviation is acting as a partner for decarbonisation through memberships like the World Economic Forum , the UK ’ s Jet Zero Council or the Smart Freight Centre ’ s Bookand-Claim Community . We ’ re looking to catalyse action on SAF and that includes stimulating demand through supply agreements .
It is also this need for collaboration which inspired Avelia ’ s creation . Not only was Avelia built collaboratively – by Shell Aviation , AMEX GBT , Accenture and Energy Web Foundation – but it ’ s based on bringing together two parts of the value chain , airlines and corporate travellers , to scale SAF demand . Everyone has a role to play in scaling SAF and we ’ re here to help make that happen .
Q . WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF END- TO-END SUPPLY CHAINS CAPABILITIES WHEN IT COMES TO SUPPORTING THE GROWTH OF SAF ?
» This is a great question because production is only one piece of the puzzle . It ’ s no good producing SAF if it cannot be distributed to where it ’ s needed . It ’ s crucial to consider the end-to-end supply chain for SAF , including bulk transportation of neat SAF , blending facilities , and the transportation of blended SAF to airports . We are focused on building the infrastructure to blend , handle and distribute SAF through our global airport network .
This is why our decision to upgrade our facilities in Singapore to allow for SAF
“ IT ’ S CRUCIAL TO CONSIDER THE END-TO-END SUPPLY CHAIN FOR SAF , INCLUDING BULK TRANSPORTATION OF NEAT SAF , BLENDING FACILITIES , AND THE TRANSPORTATION OF BLENDED SAF TO AIRPORTS ”
JAN TOSCHKA PRESIDENT , SHELL AVIATION
26 August 2023