Lighting the SAFterburners: Virent, Air bp, Virgin, Gevo, Axens, ECARU, Others Accelerating on SAF

July 25, 2023

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by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Virent, Air bp, Virgin, Gevo, Axens, ECARU, and Qalaa Holdings are accelerating on SAF. Multiple angles of attack on the problems of SAF development & deployment, on almost every front — flagship projects, expanded feedstock, technical demonstration, higher blends, bigger scale — there’s movement right now.

Virgin taps Air bp, Virent for fuel, sets November 28 date for first transatlantic 100% SAF flight

First up, perhaps the most dramatic news arrives from Virgin Atlantic that the world’s first 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel transatlantic flight will fly London-JFK on 28 November 2023, pending further regulatory approvals and testing, that a SAF blend of 88% HEFA and 12% aromatics completed successful ground testing on Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine. The lucky fuel folk? Air bp and Virent will supply the 60 tonnes of SAF required. Late last week, Virgin Atlantic and Rolls-Royce confirm the successful Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blend ground test on the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine.

In addition to the test, fuel suppliers Air bp and Virent have been announced to supply the 60 tonnes of SAF to be used in the world first, supporting consortium research, testing and the flight itself. The SAF will be produced through the Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) pathway as well as synthetic aromatic kerosene (SAK) SAF at an 88% and 12% blend ratio.

Today, SAF represents less than 0.1% of jet fuel volumes and fuel standards allow for just a 50% SAF blend in commercial jet engines. The one-off Virgin Atlantic flight in November will demonstrate the potential of SAF as a 100% drop-in replacement for fossil fuel today. The Virgin Atlantic led consortium, joint funded by the Department for Transport, includes Rolls Royce, Boeing, University of Sheffield, Imperial College London and Rocky Mountain Institute. The successful bench engine test is a key milestone, however further permissions and safety approvals are required for the flight to take off in November.

Gevo inks MSA with McDermott for SAF sites

In Colorado, Gevo has entered into a Master Services Agreement with McDermott International to provide front end engineering and early planning services for Gevo’s development of multiple sustainable aviation fuel facilities in North America. The first facility, Net-Zero 1, is expected to be located near Lake Preston, South Dakota, and is planned for 65M gallons of SAF, diesel, renewable gasoline that, when consumed, is designed to have a lifecycle net-zero greenhouse gas footprint.

Net-Zero 1 also has the potential to generate 275,000 tons of high-value nutritional products annually.

...

SAF from lignocellulosic feedstocks

From France and Egypt comes news that the Egyptian Company for Solid Waste Recycling, Qalaa Holdings, and Axens, have agreed on technical and economic studies for a project of second-generation biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass.

second-generation biofuel (advanced bioethanol) and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production. The project will be carried out in two phases, the first of which will be the production of advanced bioethanol while the second will be the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The project’s studies will take about seven months, noting that the company aims to export its production of second-generation biofuel, in line with Egypt’s strategy to maximize the use of various waste types and contribute to sustainability and waste recycling, thereby fostering economic growth. READ MORE

World first 100% SAF transatlantic flight taxis closer to takeoff (Virgin Atlantic)

GEVO SIGNS MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH MCDERMOTT FOR SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL FACILITIES (Gevo)

Rolls Royce engine to be used in world’s first full SAF flight: The flight, if successful, will advance Virgin Atlantic's route to net zero by 2050, proving SAF's potential as a 100% drop-in replacement. (Airport Technology)

Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine completes SAF blend ground test (Canadian Biomass)

Fueling Jets With Trash? Investment Flows Into Sustainable Aviation Fuel (Wall Street Journal; includes VIDEO)

VIRGIN ATLANTIC TO FLY FIRST 100% BIOFUEL FLIGHT ACROSS THE ATLANTIC (Globe Trender)

Virgin Atlantic’s historic transatlantic flight on 100% sustainable aviation fuel set for Nov. 28 (Virgin Atlantic/Biobased Diesel Daily)

Excerpt from Virgin Atlantic:

Virgin Atlantic led consortium confirms the world’s first 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel flight across the Atlantic will fly on 28 November 2023, pending further regulatory approvals and testing
SAF blend of 88% HEFA and 12% aromatics completes successful ground test on Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine, a key milestone in approvals process
Fuel supplier announced as Air bp and Virent, who will supply the 60 tonnes of SAF required for project

Virgin Atlantic and Rolls-Royce today (July 20, 2023) confirm the successful Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blend ground test on the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine. The test marks a key milestone in the project which will see the world’s first 100% SAF flight travel across the Atlantic from London Heathrow to New York JFK on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, set to take off on 28 November 2023.

Virgin Atlantic is committed to finding more sustainable ways to fly on our mission to Net Zero 2050. Already operating one of the most fuel and carbon efficient fleets across the Atlantic, this flight builds on the airline’s 15-year track record for leading on SAF. Demonstrating that through radical collaboration, industry can deliver 100% SAF in today’s engine, airframes and fuel infrastructure for long haul flight. But collectively the industry must go further, to develop a UK SAF industry and meet aviation’s 10% SAF by 2030.

SAF typically delivers CO2 lifecycle emissions savings of more than 70% whilst performing like the traditional jet fuel it replaces. SAF has a fundamental role to play in aviation’s decarbonisation and pathway to Net Zero 2050. Today, SAF represents less than 0.1% of jet fuel volumes and fuel standards allow for just a 50% SAF blend in commercial jet engines. The one-off Virgin Atlantic flight in November will demonstrate the potential of SAF as a 100% drop-in replacement for fossil fuel today.

The realisation of the 100% SAF transatlantic flight taking to the skies is a challenging task requiring cross industry collaboration and dedicated project teams working on the research, testing and operations to make it happen. The Virgin Atlantic led consortium, joint funded by the Department for Transport, includes Rolls Royce, Boeing, University of Sheffield, Imperial College London and Rocky Mountain Institute. The successful bench engine test is a key milestone, however further permissions and safety approvals are required for the flight to take off in November.

Virgin Atlantic and the consortium will leverage the 100% SAF transatlantic flight to further SAF use, as well as addressing other environmental impacts of the sector. The project will demonstrate further reductions in CO2 from operational efficiencies, contribute to research and development into the non-CO2 effects of flying, and provide an end-to-end life cycle analysis of the flight. Any residual CO2 emissions from the flight will be mitigated using innovative carbon removals from biochar projects.

Shai Weiss, CEO, Virgin Atlantic, commented: “The 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel transatlantic flight will be a historic moment in aviation’s roadmap to decarbonisation. Alongside fleet transformation, SAF is the most readily available way for our industry to decarbonise, but currently there’s not enough supply and without it and the radical collaboration required to produce it, we can’t meet our 2030 targets. We need UK government support to create a UK SAF industry to allow for every single flight out of the UK to operate with 100% SAF – if we make it, we can fly it.”

Rob Watson, President – Civil Aerospace, Rolls-Royce, said: “We are incredibly proud that our Trent 1000 engines will power the first ever flight using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel across the Atlantic. Confirming that we have successfully completed the ground test of the Trent 1000 engine today, using the chosen 100% SAF blend, gives us increased confidence for the engine’s performance and operation ahead of the flight this November. The flight will represent an incredible milestone for the entire aviation industry in its journey towards net zero carbon emissions.”

Aviation Minister, Baroness Vere of Norbiton, commented: “A year on from the launch of our Jet Zero Strategy, I’m delighted that Virgin Atlantic has confirmed the first ever transatlantic flight powered solely by Sustainable Aviation Fuel will take off this winter. Thanks to government funding, this flight will be a huge step towards net zero and showcase the potential of SAF – creating jobs and helping to grow our economy.”

Andreea Moyes, Global Aviation Sustainability Director, Air bp, said: “We are thrilled to be supplying Sustainable Aviation Fuel for the world’s first 100% SAF transatlantic flight. SAF is currently the most viable option to help us meet the industry’s net zero ambition and in the short and medium term it will be the only option for long-haul flights. Moving our industry and policy towards the use of 100% SAF is important as we work in collaboration with key stakeholders to help decarbonize aviation.”

Dave Kettner, President & General Counsel, Virent said: “With Virent’s plant-based Synthesized Aromatic Kerosene (SAK) providing essential fuel components, this test showed that 100% drop-in renewable fuel is cleaner burning and will work seamlessly in today’s commercial airline engines. We’re honored to collaborate with Virgin Atlantic, Rolls-Royce and Air bp as these forward-looking companies lead the way in sustainable aviation. Virent shares their commitment to finding sustainable ways to fly, and we’re excited about the pivotal role our BioForm® SAK plays in making that goal a reality.”

Sheila Remes, Vice President, Environmental Sustainability, Boeing said: “Boeing is proud to provide technical expertise and support for this testing as we gear-up for Virgin Atlantic’s flagship Boeing 787 Dreamliner to make the first 100% SAF transatlantic flight. We look forward to continuing to work with our project partners on this journey, taking one more step towards a sustainable future of flight.”

About Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic was founded by entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson in 1984, with innovation and amazing customer service at its core. In 2022, Virgin Atlantic was voted Britain’s only Global Five Star Airline by APEX for the sixth year running in the Official Airline Ratings. Headquartered in London, it employs more than 7,500 people worldwide, flying customers to 31 destinations across four continents throughout the year. Virgin Atlantic recently continued its expansion in the US, launching new routes to Austin, Texas and Tampa, Florida.

Alongside shareholder and Joint Venture partner Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic operates a leading transatlantic network, with onward connections to over 200 cities around the world. In February 2020, Air France-KLM, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic launched an expanded Joint Venture, offering a comprehensive route network, convenient flight schedules, competitive fares and reciprocal frequent flyer benefits, including the ability to earn and redeem miles across all carriers. Virgin Atlantic joined SkyTeam in March 2023 as the global airline alliance’s first and only UK member airline, enhancing the alliance’s transatlantic network and services to and from Heathrow and Manchester Airport.

Virgin Atlantic has been pioneering sustainability leadership for more than 15 years, committing to Net Zero by 2050 and continuous action that reduces environmental impact. The airline operates one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets in the skies and has reduced its absolute carbon emissions by 35% over the last decade. In October 2022, Virgin Atlantic welcomed the first of 16 A330-900neos to the fleet, continuing its transformation towards 100% next generation aircraft by 2027. Later in 2023, Virgin Atlantic is leading an industry consortium to deliver the first 100% SAF flight across the transatlantic. Demonstrating that 100% SAF can be used safely as a drop in fuel in existing infrastructure, engines and airframes. The need to scale production is an industry imperative and Virgin Atlantic is committed to radical collaboration across the energy chain to support commercialisation ahead of 2030.

About Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

Rolls-Royce develops and delivers complex power and propulsion solutions for safety-critical applications in the air, at sea and on land. Our products and service packages enable our customers to connect people, societies, cultures and economies together; they meet the growing need for power generation across multiple industries; and enable governments to equip their armed forces with the power required to protect their citizens.

Rolls-Royce has customers in more than 150 countries, comprising more than 400 airlines and leasing customers, 160 armed forces and navies, and more than 5,000 power and nuclear customers. We are committed to making our products compatible with net zero carbon emissions to meet customer demand for more sustainable solutions.

The annual underlying revenue was £12.69 billion in 2022, and the underlying operating profit was £652m.

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc is a publicly traded company (LSE: RR., ADR: RYCEY, LEI: 213800EC7997ZBLZJH69) www.rolls-royce.com READ MORE

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Lighting the SAFterburners: Virent, Air bp, Virgin, Gevo, Axens, ECARU, Others Accelerating on SAF

Virgin taps Air bp, Virent for fuel, sets November 28 date for first transatlantic 100% SAF flight

Gevo inks MSA with McDermott for SAF sites

SAF from lignocellulosic feedstocks

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