Shell Aviation launches lifecycle sustainability approach for aviation lubes

In alignment with Shell’s target to become a net zero-emissions energy business by 2050, AeroShell has confirmed its commitment to continue working to avoid and reduce carbon emissions by optimizing production and product design, embedding circularity into product packaging, improving the energy efficiency of facilities, and using renewable energy to reduce emissions across the supply chain.

Shell will then purchase high-quality, independently verified carbon credits to compensate for carbon emissions that are not currently being avoided or reduced.

While SAF and fuel efficiency are rightly highlighted as key levers to decarbonize aviation, for the aviation sector to reach net zero it must address emissions from all aspects of aircraft operations in order to decarbonize – so this means lubricants too, even if they do represent a small proportion of aviation emissions when compared to jet fuel. It is a real point of pride that AeroShell will now support our customers in maintaining aircraft performance while taking action on decarbonization, said Vincent Begon, General Manager Aviation Lubricants, Shell Aviation.

The new lifecycle sustainability approach will be included as standard across the full AeroShell product range, including turbine engine oils (TEOs), piston engine oils (PEOs), greases, and fluids, for both the commercial airline and general aviation markets.

The fundamentals of lubricants mean that they are challenging to decarbonize, so a lot of effort has gone into developing this new proposition, including working with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), distributors, and other key players across the lubricants industry. This is an important development for our aviation lubricants business, and one that we are confident will provide genuine value for our customers as we support them in decarbonizing, Vincent Begon said.

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd, a Swiss company developing, producing, and selling aircraft to global customers – many of which are using AeroShell products – are in support of AeroShell’s new lifecycle sustainability approach.

Shell has a strong track record of developing lubricants that deliver on safety and performance, so it is fantastic to see them continue to push the boundaries of the lubricants market, this time in the name of decarbonization, commented Dr Urs Thomann, Director of Technologies, Processes, and Sustainability, Pilatus Aircraft.

Across Shell’s entire global lubricants business, the measures implemented to avoid and reduce carbon emissions include:

• Increasing the use of re-refined base oils.
• Using more recycled content in its product plastic packaging, in support of Shell’s ambition of reaching 30 percent PCR use by 2030.
• Taking out over 55 000 tonnes of CO₂eq of Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions from its global lubricants operations, reducing production step carbon intensity by more than 45 percent since 2016.
• Over 50 percent of the electricity imported to Shell Global Lube Oil Blending Plants (LOBPs) now comes directly from renewable sources through the installation of solar PV panels and green power contracts, or indirectly using renewable energy credits (RECs).
• Installing solar PV panels at 11 of its lubricant blending plants, expecting to generate over 11 GWh of electricity annually, can result in the avoidance of GHG emissions of over 6 000 tonnes of CO₂eq per year.
• Optimising delivery networks to reduce road transport by 1.3 million miles since 2021.

According to Shell, this upgrade to the AeroShell offering marks the latest step in Shell Aviation’s efforts to decarbonize in alignment with Shell’s net zero-emissions target which includes increasing low and no-carbon offerings to customers.