In the Netherlands, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines SkyNRG and SHV Energy have jointly announced DSL-01, a project to develop the first dedicated European plant for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). To be built in Delfzijl, the production facility will specialise in producing SAF, bioLPG, and naphtha, primarily using regional waste and residue streams as feedstock. Scheduled to begin production in 2022, the plant will be the first of its kind in the world.
According to a statement, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has committed itself for a 10-year period to the development and purchase of 75 000 tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) per annum. KLM says that it is the first airline in the world to invest in sustainable aviation fuel on this scale.
I am proud of our collaboration with SkyNRG and SHV Energy to launch a project that will see the development of the first European production facility for sustainable aviation fuel. The advent of aviation has had a major impact on the world, offering a new means of bringing people closer together. This privilege goes hand in hand with huge responsibility towards our planet. KLM takes this very seriously and has therefore invested in sustainability for many years. By joining hands with other parties, we can build a plant that will accelerate the development of sustainable aviation fuel. From 2022, the plant will produce 100 000 tonnes a year, of which KLM will purchase 75 000 tonnes. This will reduce our CO2 emissions by 200 000 tonnes a year, which is equal to the emissions released by 1 000 KLM flights between Amsterdam and Rio de Janeiro, said Pieter Elbers, President, and CEO, KLM.
SkyNRG, global market leader for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), will develop Europe’s first dedicated plant for the production of SAF in Delfzijl. The production facility will specialise in producing SAF, bioLPG, and naphtha, primarily using regional waste and residue streams as feedstock. The plant will be the first of its kind in the world.
We are very proud to announce this project today and that we will be realising it in the Netherlands together with such strong partners. For us and our partners, this project is an important milestone in further upscaling the market for sustainable aviation fuel. We are the first to take a step on this scale and we hope it will serve as an example to the rest of the industry in the transition towards a sustainable future for commercial aviation, said Maarten van Dijk, Executive Director of SkyNRG.
DSL-01
The construction of this facility, called DSL-01, is scheduled to open in 2022, and is a concrete step towards fulfilling KLM’s sustainability ambitions and contributing to the broader industry plan “Smart and Sustainable”. SHV Energy, a global leader in LPG distribution, will also invest in the facility and will purchase the bioLPG produced.
We are proud of our innovative collaboration with SkyNRG and KLM, enabling us to make a positive contribution to energy transition. This investment closely aligns with SHV Energy’s strategy to further increase the share of sustainably produced energy products. Our customers in Europe, many of whom are not connected to the natural gas grid, rely on SHV Energy to meet their energy needs efficiently, sustainably and safely. As pioneers in the field of bioLPG, we are pleased that this project will add 15,000 tonnes of bioLPG to our annual supply, said Bram Gräber, CEO of SHV Energy:
DSL-01 will be dedicated to the production of sustainable aviation fuel. From 2022, the plant will annually produce 100 000 tonnes of SAF, as well as 15 000 tonnes of bioLPG, as a by-product. It will mean a CO2 reduction of 270 000 tonnes a year for the aviation industry.
“Smart & Sustainable”
The feedstocks used for production will be waste and residue streams, such as used cooking oil (UCO) coming predominantly from regional industries. The use of food crops, such as soy oil and palm oil or by-products such as PFAD and POME, will not be permitted. Supply chain sustainability and related products are ensured through certification by the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB).
We are pleased and proud that KLM and SkyNRG are committed to RSB certification of sustainable aviation fuel. Our standards are globally considered to be the best in class. Our 12 comprehensive principles include greenhouse gas emissions, human and labour rights, practices to maintain soil health and water use and rural and social development. None of the other standards use such a broad range of criteria, said Rolf Hogan, Executive Director of RSB.
The facility will run on sustainable hydrogen (H2), which will be produced using water and wind energy. Thanks to these choices, this sustainable aviation fuel delivers a carbon dioxide (CO2) -reduction of at least 85 percent, compared to fossil fuel.
The use of SAF will also contribute to a significant decrease in ultra-fine particles and sulphur emissions. The construction of this facility is very much in line with KLM’s sustainability objectives and is an important step towards implementing the industry action plan “Smart & Sustainable”, which was drafted by twenty leading transport organisations and knowledge centres. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) will also be investing in the development of this facility.
In addition to KLM and SHV Energy, SkyNRG has joined hands with various other partners in the Netherlands and beyond, on the DSL-01 project: EIT Climate-KIC, Royal Schiphol Group, GROEIfonds, NV NOM, Groningen Seaports, Nouryon, Gasunie, Arcadis, TechnipFMC, Haldor Topsoe, Desmet Ballestra, Susteen Technologies, and MBP Solutions. These partners will be involved in various phases of the project.
