In the United States (US) Aemetis, Inc., a leading producer of renewable natural gas and renewable fuels, has announced that it has signed an offtake agreement for 90 million (US) gallons (≈ 3401 million litres) of blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to be delivered to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) over the seven-year term of the agreement.
JAL is one of Japan’s largest international airlines as of 2021. JAL operates more than 200 aircraft delivering more than 40 million passengers and approximately 500 000 tonnes of cargo globally.
This supply agreement with Aemetis builds on JAL’s expanding effort for a future of net-zero emission by 2050, plans to replace 1 percent of its conventional jet fuel consumption with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by 2025, and 10 percent by 2030.
The agreement also underlines the oneworld Alliance’s commitment to collectively source SAF, of which JAL is a member.
Delivery starts in 2025
The sustainable aviation fuel is expected to be produced by the Aemetis biorefinery under development on a 125 acre former U S Army Ammunition production plant site in Riverbank, California (CA).
The blended SAF is scheduled to begin deliveries to JAL in 2025.
The use of sustainable aviation fuel by Japan Airlines is another step by the oneworld Alliance toward lowering the environmental impact of aviation. Our supply of SAF to the San Francisco International Airport is supported by the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard, creating new investment and jobs in disadvantaged minority communities in the state, said Eric McAfee, Chairman, and CEO of Aemetis.
Carbon negative production
Powered by 100 percent renewable electricity, the Aemetis Carbon Zero production plant design utilizes cellulosic hydrogen made from carbon-negative waste wood from orchards and forests.
The below-zero carbon intensity, cellulosic hydrogen from waste wood is used to hydrotreat vegetable and other renewable oils to produce renewable aviation and diesel fuel.
To further reduce carbon intensity, the Aemetis Carbon Zero design includes capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the production plant and injecting the compressed CO2 into sequestration well at the Riverbank site.
The project is designed to permanently store an estimated 200 000 tonnes of CO2 each year from the plant.
