Google to Join One of the World’s Largest Sustainable Aviation Fuel Programs

August 15, 2023

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(American Express Global Business Travel) Tech company joins Amex GBT and Shell Aviation program powered by Avelia, one of the world’s first blockchain, book-and-claim platforms for SAF -- American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT), the world’s leading B2B travel platform, and Shell Aviation today announced that Google has joined its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) program. Google’s collaboration with Amex GBT and Shell Aviation builds on its goal to reach net zero across all its operations and value chain by 2030, and contributes to global climate solutions.

Michael Terrell, Sr. Director of Climate and Energy, Google: “The use of SAF will play a critical role in helping the aviation sector on its path to decarbonize. Joining Amex GBT’s sustainable aviation fuel program further represents Google’s continued efforts to accelerate the global transition to a carbon-free future.”

Amex GBT and Shell Aviation’s SAF program demonstrates how the private sector can drive systemic change and help finance aviation’s transition to net zero by bringing together major corporations such as Google, Aon, Bank of America, Delta, Cathay Pacific, JetBlue, and Japan Airlines. The program is also aggregating clear demand, a foundational step in helping scale the emerging SAF market. The program launched in 2022 with 1 million gallons of SAF available for corporate customers – enough to power almost 15,000 business trips from London-to-New York.^[1]

Andrew Crawley, President, American Express Global Business Travel: “Business travel is a crucial passenger segment for aviation, accounting for around 15% of air travel globally and generating around 40% of revenues. To have Google join our growing SAF program demonstrates how corporate collaboration can accelerate aviation’s transition to net zero and enable more sustainable travel.”

With air travel accounting for around 90% of business travel emissions, sustainable business travel means addressing a deep-rooted problem: aviation’s dependence on fossil fuels. SAF, when used neat, can reduce lifecycle carbon emissions by as much as 80% when compared to traditional fossil-based fuels.^[2] It is currently the aviation industry’s most promising pathway to decarbonizing air travel.^[3] However, SAF represents less than 0.1% of available aviation fuel and is two- to eight-times more expensive than conventional fossil-based jet fuel.^[4] As a result, SAF production and demand are limited.

Amex GBT and Shell Aviation are bringing together corporates and airlines to help resolve these issues. By drawing from Shell Aviation’s airline customers and the purchasing power of Amex GBT’s 19,000+ corporate customers across 140 countries, the cost of SAF can be co-funded and help scale its use. This demand signals capital investment in the additional production facilities and technologies needed to achieve economies of scale, helping the nascent SAF industry take off.

Jan Toschka, President, Shell Aviation: “It’s great that through the Avelia program Shell Aviation will supply SAF to support Google in cutting emissions from its corporate flying. Considering Google’s stature and prominence this announcement represents an important milestone for decarbonising aviation. As scaling the uptake of SAF will only be possible if all parts of the aviation value chain work together, we’re thrilled to work with such an influential and forward-thinking company.”

The program is powered by Avelia, one of the world’s first blockchain-powered digital SAF book-and-claim solutions for business travel. Avelia uses blockchain to provide clear and transparent tracking of the environmental attributes of SAF delivered into the aviation fueling network. Environmental attributes can be allocated to both airlines and business customers, while avoiding issues such as double counting. This means corporates can confidently report verified lifecycle emissions reductions from SAF today, while working to establish sufficient SAF to meet their future net zero or science-based targets.

To learn more about Avelia, please visit aveliasolutions.com.

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Avelia is intended to complement and work alongside airlines’ current corporate SAF programs. It offers a solution that is inclusive and neutral with respect to airlines, technology production pathways, fuels and feedstocks.
Book-and-claim allows travelers to pay for SAF, and claim the environmental benefits, even if SAF is not available at their departure airport. SAF will instead be fed into another aircraft in an airport where available.
The SAF will be certified in line with the regulatory standards set within the country of delivery.
Avelia uses a blockchain-powered book-and-claim method that follows the Smart Freight Centre and MIT’s Center for Transportation & Logistics SAF Guidelines.^[5]
Google, Amex GBT and Shell are members of the World Economic Forum’s First Movers Coalition, working to harness the purchasing power of companies to decarbonize hard-to-abate business sectors, including aviation.

[1] The number of one-way individual business traveler flights has been calculated based on the following assumptions; a carbon intensity of SAF of 22 gCO2e/MJ, a flight distance between London and New York of 5541km, and an emissions factor for a long-haul flight of 0.102 kgCO₂e/passenger-km based on UK DEFRA 2021 emissions factors for corporate reporting.

[2] Actual carbon reduction estimate for SAF will vary depending on production pathway; an 80% reduction is the upper limit of what is commercially available today; IATA, Developing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)

[3] ibid

[4] ibid

[5] Smart Freight Centre and MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics, The Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Greenhouse Gas Emission Accounting and Insetting Guidelines

About American Express Global Business Travel

American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) is the world’s leading B2B travel platform, providing software and services to manage travel, expenses, and meetings and events for companies of all sizes. We have built the most valuable marketplace in B2B travel to deliver unrivalled choice, value and experiences. With travel professionals in more than 140 countries, our customers and travelers enjoy the powerful backing of American Express Global Business Travel. READ MORE

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