Partnership promises a steady supply of sustainable aviation fuel

Avfuel Corporation and Neste have partnered to create an “efficient, continuous supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the United States,” according to Avfuel officials. 

Neste, which is based in Finland, will provide Avfuel with SAF in volumes able to meet the growing demands of Avfuel’s customers, including FBOs, airports, flight departments, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and commercial operators. Avfuel will sell the new fuel under the brand name Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel. 

Monterey Jet Center at Monterey Regional Airport (KMRY) in Monterey, California, will be the first customer to receive a consistent supply of SAF.

With the first delivery scheduled for the first quarter of 2021, Neste and Avfuel will work with Monterey Jet Center to ensure that the supply chain, from production through invoicing, functions smoothly before rolling the program out to a larger customer base, Avfuel officials said. 

“This strategic partnership is an exciting development for the industry’s sustainability initiative and a natural next step in response to aviation’s growing demand for SAF,” said Craig Sincock, president and CEO of Avfuel.   “It combines Neste’s leading SAF production and marketing expertise with Avfuel’s leading distribution logistics and branding proficiencies for our global network of FBOs and fuel consumers. Together, we are able to support aviation’s sustainability goals and enhance supply availability at a commercial scale, filling an immense gap in the industry’s supply chain.” 

“This collaboration is about so much more than just creating a supply chain. We are really providing passengers a meaningful way to reduce their carbon footprint when traveling on a business or private aircraft,” said Chris Cooper, Neste’s vice president for renewable aviation in North America. “Thanks to great partners like Avfuel, travelers who care about the health of our planet will be able to choose to board an aircraft flying on SAF.”

Neste has been involved in sustainable aviation fuel production for nearly a decade. Company officials expect Neste to have the capacity to produce about 1.5 million tons (515 million gallons) of SAF annually by 2023.

Neste’s SAF is made from sustainably sourced, renewable waste and residue materials, such as used cooking oil for example. It is a drop-in fuel that offers an immediate way to directly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from aircraft, requiring no new investments, modifications or changes to the aircraft or fuel distribution procedures, according to Neste officials.

Prior to use, the Neste MY SAF is blended with petroleum-based jet fuel and then the blended product is verified to meet ASTM D-1655 specification for jet fuel. In its neat form and over its lifecycle, Neste’s SAF can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to fossil jet fuel. Once blended at a 35% ratio, Avfuel anticipates a 19 metric ton reduction in carbon emissions per truck load, company officials report.