Boeing is buying 9.4 million gallons (35.6 million liters) of blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to support its 2024 U.S. commercial operations, aiming to reduce carbon emissions and contribute to the global growth of SAF supply. This marks the company’s largest annual SAF purchase, exceeding its 2023 procurement by more than 60%.
The blended fuel, consisting of 30% SAF derived from waste by-products like fats, oils, and greases, combined with 70% conventional jet fuel, will be utilized for the Boeing ecoDemonstrator program and U.S. commercial operational flights.
Ryan Faucett, Boeing’s vice president of environmental sustainability, emphasized, “As our focus remains on safety and quality, sustainability continues to be a priority. Sustainable aviation fuel is crucial for decarbonizing aviation. Approximately 20% of our fuel usage comprises a SAF blend, and we are actively increasing our utilization of this fuel to stimulate growth within the SAF industry. Additionally, we are striving to enhance the availability and affordability of SAF for our commercial airline customers through collaborative efforts, investments, research, and policy development.”
Unblended or “neat” SAF can reduce carbon emissions by up to 85% over the fuel’s life cycle, presenting the commercial aviation industry with significant potential to mitigate its climate impact over the next 30 years.
Boeing will receive 4 million gallons of the blended SAF at its fuel farms in the Pacific Northwest. EPIC Fuels, a Signature Aviation company, will supply 2.5 million gallons sourced from Neste, while Avfuel will provide 1.5 million gallons of blended SAF from Neste.
Additionally, Boeing will offset the CO2 emissions equivalent to 5.4 million gallons of blended SAF through a process known as book-and-claim. This method involves purchasing SAF certificates to substitute conventional jet fuel. Instead of storing the fuel in Boeing’s fuel farms, distributors will deliver it to nearby airports for use by airlines and other carriers.
Through Boeing’s book-and-claim transactions, EPIC Fuels will deliver 3.5 million gallons of blended SAF produced by Neste, while World Fuel Services, a World Kinect company, will supply 1.9 million gallons sourced from World Energy.
