In the United States (US), air carrier Alaska Airlines Inc. has signed a multi-year sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) offtake agreement with compatriot biofuels- and biochemicals producer and process developer Gevo Inc.
Please reload the page
Do you want to read the whole article?
- Six editions per year
- Full access to all digital content
- The E-magazine Bioenergy international
- And more ...
The multi-year SAF agreement provides for Alaska Airlines to purchase 37 million (US) gallons (≈ 140 million litres) per year of SAF for five years through Gevo’s future commercial operations.
Gevo’s SAF deliveries are expected to begin in 2026.
Alaska Airlines is a member of the oneworld Alliance, and this agreement falls under the purview of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that Alaska Airlines and Gevo signed in March 2022, laying the groundwork for the 14 world-class airlines in the alliance to potentially purchase 200 million gallons (≈ 757 million litres) of SAF per year, from Gevo’s future commercial production operations.
Gevo and Alaska Airlines previously partnered in 2016 to demonstrate the use of the first cellulosic renewable jet fuel specified for use on a commercial airline flight, produced from the sugars of wood waste.
This agreement with Alaska Airlines expands the list of committed airline partners and supports Gevo’s pursuit of its stated goal of producing and commercializing a billion gallons (≈ 3.78 billion litres) of SAF by 2030.
As we continue to grow our partnerships with oneworld airlines, I’m personally gratified to see that Alaska Airlines has joined our list of partners. Alaska was the first airline to fly on a Gevo experimental fuel that we made from the cellulosic fiber of wood waste, providing a pathway and proof that waste woods can be used to make sustainable aviation fuel. When Alaska Airlines receives fuel from one of our Net-Zero facilities, they will do so having been a part of some of our very important initial testing and delivery of sustainable aviation fuel, said Dr Patrick Gruber, CEO of Gevo.
Alaska Airlines is committed to alternatives that assist in its goal of reducing emissions, including the use of greener alternatives and the prioritization of programs that help them safely burn less fuel.
They have committed to pathways that will help them achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, with the stated goal of being “the most sustainable and fuel-efficient U.S. airline.”
Using sustainable aviation fuel is a significant part of Alaska’s five-part path to reach net zero carbon emissions, and we are excited about this agreement with Gevo – alongside our partners American Airlines and others in the oneworld Alliance. We also recognize that there is significant work required ahead – including public policy action – to make SAF a viable, affordable option at scale, said Diana Birkett Rakow, SVP of public affairs and sustainability at Alaska Airlines.
The agreement is subject to certain conditions, including Gevo developing, financing, and constructing one or more production facilities to produce the SAF contemplated by the agreement.