In the United States (US) Aemetis, Inc., a leading producer of renewable natural gas and renewable fuels, has announced that it has signed an offtake agreement for 35 million (US) gallons (≈ 132.5 million litres) of blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to be delivered to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) over the 7-year term of the agreement beginning in 2025.
According to a statement, Aemetis, Inc. has signed the offtake agreement with Australian national carrier Qantas Group and Qantas Airlines (Qantas). The value of the contract including incentives is approximately US$250 million.
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) provides significant environmental benefits compared to petroleum jet fuel, including a lower lifecycle carbon footprint and reduced contrails. The blended SAF to be supplied under this agreement is 40 percent SAF and 60 percent Petroleum Jet-A to meet international blending standards.
This supply agreement with Aemetis builds on Qantas’s expanding effort for a future of net zero emissions by 2050.
Climate change is front of mind for Qantas, our customers, employees, and investors, and it is a key focus for us as we move through our recovery from the pandemic. Operating our aircraft with sustainable aviation fuel is the single biggest thing we can do to directly reduce our emissions, said Alan Joyce, CEO at Qantas Group.
To be supplied from Riverbank
The SAF is expected to be produced by the Aemetis renewable jet/diesel plant under development on a 125 acre former US Army Ammunition production plant site in Riverbank, California (CA).
To be powered by 100 percent renewable electricity, the Aemetis Carbon Zero production plant at the Riverbank plant site is designed to sequester carbon dioxide (CO2) from the production process using injection wells, significantly reducing the carbon intensity (CI) of the renewable fuel.
The blended SAF is scheduled to begin deliveries to Qantas at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in 2025.
The use of sustainable aviation fuel by Qantas is another step toward lowering the environmental impact of aviation. Our supply of SAF to the San Francisco International Airport is supported by the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard, creating new investment and jobs in disadvantaged minority communities in the state, said Eric McAfee, Chairman, and CEO of Aemetis.
