Repsol and Ryanair Sign Agreement to Promote the Use of Renewable Fuels

(Repsol) - The alliance reinforces the role of both companies as relevant players in the decarbonization of the aviation sector and establishes a collaboration framework to move towards a sustainable air transport. - Repsol will provide Ryanair with access to a maximum of 155,000 tons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) between 2025 and 2030. This is the equivalent of more than 28,000 flights between Dublin and Madrid, and it will allow an approximate reduction of 490,000 tons of CO₂ emissions. - Ryanair has set itself an ambitious target of using 12.5% SAF by 2030. - Repsol is a pioneer in Spain in the manufacture of renewable fuels for all transport segments, including aviation.

Repsol and Ryanair have signed a strategic agreement to promote the use of renewable fuels in Spain and Portugal. Thanks to this alliance, both companies reinforce their role as relevant players in the decarbonization of the aviation industry and establish a collaboration framework for the coming years to move towards a sustainable air transport.

Although sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) are a key factor in the decarbonization of aviation, they represent only a small fraction of current aviation fuel use worldwide. With this agreement, the multi-energy company will provide Ryanair with access to a maximum of 155,000 tons of SAF between 2025 and 2030, equivalent to the fuel used on more than 28,000 flights between Dublin and Madrid, which will enable an approximate reduction of 490,000 tons of CO₂ emissions.

To Valero Marín, Repsol's executive managing director of Client, "this collaboration agreement with Ryanair, Europe's leading passenger airline, reinforces our commitment to the aviation sector, and it is another step in Repsol's commitment to renewable fuels. A sector such as aviation needs solutions like SAF for the decarbonization process we are currently undergoing. It also consolidates our position as a multi-energy company with the objective of achieving zero net emissions by 2050."

For his part, Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson says: "SAF plays a key role in Ryanair’s Pathway to Net Zero strategy and our goal of using 12.5% SAF by 2030. Achieving this requires multiple different feedstocks and production methods, and we’re encouraged that Repsol are looking at different solutions. This agreement helps Ryanair secure access to approximately 15% of this ambitious goal. Repsol is a key sustainability partner for Ryanair, and we look forward to building on this collaboration as our Group grows to carry 225 million passengers annually by 2026.”

Repsol is a pioneer in Spain in the manufacture of renewable fuels for all transport sectors, including aviation. With the production of this type of fuels in its industrial complexes, Repsol has anticipated the different measures that the EU institutions have established to promote the use of sustainable aviation fuels.

In addition, at the end of the year, the multi-energy company will start operations at the first advanced biofuels plant in Spain, in Cartagena (Region of Murcia). This plant will produce 250,000 tons of renewable fuels from waste, as part of the company's ambition to reach a production capacity of 1.3 million tons of renewable fuels by 2025 and more than 2 million tons by 2030, thus leading this market in the Iberian Peninsula and making decisive progress towards the company’s goal of reaching zero net emissions by 2050. READ MORE

Excerpt from RyanAir: Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline, has today (19th Oct 2023) purchased 500 tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from OMV, the international integrated oil, gas and chemicals company. This agreement will save over 1,250 tonnes in CO2 emissions (equivalent to c.100 Ryanair flights from Dublin to Vienna).

This purchase follows on from the MoU agreement made between the companies last year, providing Ryanair with unique access to purchase up to 160,000 metric tonnes of SAF from OMV up to 2030.

Today’s announcement demonstrates Ryanair’s continued commitment towards its 12.5% SAF use by 2030 target, as well as the airline and OMV’s ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Ryanair has already significantly advanced these commitments by partnering with Trinity College Dublin to open the Ryanair Sustainable Aviation Research Centre, investing $22bn in its ‘Gamechanger’ fleet, which reduce CO2 emissions by 16% and a further $40bn investment for 300 Boeing 737 MAX-10 aircraft which reduce CO2 emissions by 20% while carrying 21% more passengers.

OMV is also implementing numerous measures to achieve its ambitious strategic sustainability goals with SAF an essential contributor to this transformation. It is OMV’s ambition to become a regional leader in the supply of SAF.

Speaking from Vienna, Ryanair’s Head of Sustainability, Steven Fitzgerald said:

“SAF plays a key role in our Pathway to Net Zero decarbonisation strategy in which we have committed to increasing our use of SAF over the coming years – a commitment that this deal with OMV will help move further forward. OMV is a key partner for Ryanair in Austria, Germany and Romania and we look forward to growing this partnership as Europe’s largest airline Group.”

“We are building a growth business for Sustainable Aviation Fuel to support the industry’s journey towards a more sustainable future. We are proud of our partnership with Ryanair that allows both companies to leverage their expertise in promoting the use of SAF. This facilitates the transition towards the application of more sustainable forms of energy and helps reduce the climate impact of aviation.” READ MORE