US-based company Boeing has bought two million gallons of blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from EPIC Fuels for its commercial aeroplanes operations in Washington state and South Carolina.
The SAF purchase, which is claimed to be the largest by an airframer, is part of Boeing’s aviation decarbonisation goal.
Boeing Environmental Sustainability vice-president Sheila Remes said: “SAF is a safe, proven, immediate solution that will help achieve our industry’s long-term commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“Boeing has been a pioneer in making sustainable aviation fuels a reality. Through this agreement, we will reduce our carbon footprint and have SAF available for customer deliveries, as well as our own operations.”
According to the agreement, EPIC Fuels will supply SAF produced using inedible agricultural waste, combining 30% neat SAF and 70% conventional jet fuel.
Boeing will use the SAF for commercial production, test, ferry, Dreamlifter and customer flights at facilities in Everett, Renton and Seattle in Washington; as well as North Charleston in South Carolina.
EPIC Fuels said that it will continue to deliver customised SAF blends for The Boeing ecoDemonstrator programme. These blends range from 50/50 up to 100%.
EPIC Fuels vice-president and COO Kyle O’Leary said: “Our focus on environmental stewardship and safety is well known in the industry.
“EPIC and Boeing have been partners for decades and we are honoured to be a part of this procurement. Working together, we are making sustainability more attainable for our customers.”
At present, the 50/50 SAF blend is approved as conventional jet fuel for commercial flights.
In January last year, Boeing unveiled plans to deliver commercial aeroplanes that are ‘capable and certified to’ fly on 100% SAF by the end of this decade.
Earlier this month, GE Aviation collaborated with Boeing to enable the flight tests of its hybrid-electric propulsion system, including a modified Saab 340B aircraft and CT7-9B turboprop engines.
