In the United States (US), air carrier Alaska Airlines Inc has signed an offtake agreement with Aemetis Inc, a leading producer of renewable natural gas and renewable fuels, for 13 million (US) gallons (≈ 49.2 million litres) of blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to be delivered over the seven-year term of the agreement.
SAF provides significant environmental benefits compared to petroleum jet fuel, including a lower lifecycle carbon footprint and reduced contrails.
The blended fuel to be supplied under this agreement is 40 percent SAF and 60 percent petroleum Jet A to meet international blending standards.
To make a meaningful impact in decarbonizing aviation, we must increase the supply and accessibility of SAF. This partnership is an important step forward in making SAF readily available in one of our most important and busiest hubs. We look forward to working with Aemetis to expand the use of SAF in the Bay Area and beyond, said Lauren Kriegler, Director of fuel at Alaska Airlines.
The sustainable aviation fuel is expected to be produced by the Aemetis renewable diesel and SAF plant under development on a 125-acre former US Army Ammunition production plant site in Riverbank, California (CA).
The blended SAF is scheduled to begin deliveries to Alaska Airlines at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in 2025.
The use of sustainable aviation fuel by Alaska is another step by the oneworld Alliance toward lowering the environmental impact of aviation, said Eric McAfee, Chairman and CEO of Aemetis.
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, Eric McAfee said.
Carbon negative production
Powered by 100 percent renewable electricity, the Aemetis Carbon Zero production plant design utilizes cellulosic hydrogen made from carbon-negative waste wood from orchards and forests.
The below-zero carbon intensity, cellulosic hydrogen from waste wood is used to hydrotreat vegetable- and other renewable oils to produce renewable diesel as SAF
To further reduce carbon intensity, the Aemetis Carbon Zero design includes capturing the carbon dioxide (CO2) from the production plant and injecting the compressed CO2 into a sequestration well at the Riverbank site.
The project is designed to permanently store an estimated 200 000 tonnes of CO2 each year from the plant.
