Neste’s SAF biofuel tested in Boeing Emirates flight in 2023
Emirates, the official national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has begun using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as part of its fuel agreement with Neste, Singapore on flights departing from Singapore Changi Airport, marking its first investment in SAF investments Asia. Approximately 807,000 gallons of blended SAF have been integrated into the fuelling system of Changi airport over the course of the last few weeks.
Neste is a Finnish company but its Singapore refinery, with 300 employees, started its SAF operations in 2010 producing exclusively renewable products.
“Emirates’ investment into Neste-produced SAF in Singapore marks a first step forward in our SAF adoption in Asia, a region that is primed to become a leading supplier of SAF, which continues to be in short supply,” said Adel Al Redha, Deputy President and Chief Operations Officer, from Emirates.
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Emirates is tracking the delivery of SAF into the fuelling systems, accounting for and assigning its environmental benefits through widely used and accepted industry methodologies. Earlier this year, the airline closely collaborated with Neste for the supply of 2.6 million litres of neat SAF in the fuelling systems of Amsterdam Schiphol airport.
The SAF being provided by Neste is produced from sustainably sourced and 100% renewable waste as well as residue raw materials, including used cooking oil and animal fat waste. SAF used as part of this agreement can be safely used in existing Emirates aircraft and airport fuelling infrastructure, and in neat form reduces lifecycle carbon emissions (CO2) by up to 80% compared to using conventional jet fuel.
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Emirates currently operates flights from Amsterdam, London Heathrow, Paris, Lyon and Oslo with SAF. The airline also integrated SAF into the fuelling systems at its Dubai hub late last year.
In 2023, Emirates was also the first airline in the world to operate two landmark demonstration flights from Dubai on the Boeing 777 and A380 with 100% SAF in one engine in partnership with Neste and other committed partners, supporting future certification where 100% drop in SAF is approved for commercial airline operations.
Currently, SAF is approved for use in all aircraft, but only in blends of up to 50% with conventional jet fuel.
Author: Karin Kloosterman
Karin Kloosterman is an award-winning journalist and publisher that founded Green Prophet to unite a prosperous Middle East. She shows through her work that positive, inspiring dialogue creates action that impacts people, business and planet. She has published in thought-leading newspapers and magazines globally, owns an IoT tech chip patent, and is part of teams that build world-changing products to make agriculture and our planet more sustainable. Reach out directly to [email protected]
