The 2 million-gallon deal to fuel a sustainable future
Boeing announces largest purchase to date of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for its commercial airplane operations
Aviation maintenance technician Frank Farstad loads sustainable aviation fuel into the 2021 Boeing ecoDemonstrator.
Boeing procures 2 million gallons of blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from EPIC Fuels for its U.S. commercial airplane operations. This procurement is the largest announced acquisition of commercial SAF by an original equipment manufacturer and further demonstrates Boeing’s commitment to SAF to decarbonize aviation.
“SAF is an immediate solution that will help achieve our industry’s long-term commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050,” says Sheila Remes, Boeing vice president of Environmental Sustainability, referencing the aviation industry’s commitment to decarbonize. “Boeing has been a pioneer in making sustainable aviation fuels a reality, and through this agreement, we will reduce our own carbon footprint and have a SAF supply available for customer deliveries and our own operations.”
Two million gallons of SAF (7.57 million liters), which is equivalent to more than three Olympic-size swimming pools, will be pumped into the fuel farms at Boeing’s four commercial airplane operation locations: Renton, Everett and Boeing Field, Washington, and North Charleston, South Carolina.
The Boeing procurement through 2022 includes a blended SAF product that is at least 30% non-fossil jet fuel blended with 70% conventional jet fuel. The fuel purchase will enable broader use of SAF for Boeing commercial production, test, ferry, Dreamlifter and customer flights at facilities in Everett, Renton and Seattle in Washington state and North Charleston in South Carolina. EPIC Fuels will also continue to supply a customized 50/50 SAF blend for the Boeing ecoDemonstrator program.
Sustainably produced jet fuel, which reduces CO2 emissions by as much as 80% over the fuel’s life cycle with the potential to reach 100% in the future, is widely recognized as offering the most immediate and greatest potential to decarbonize aviation over the next 20 to 30 years. In January 2021, Boeing committed that all the commercial airplanes it delivers will be capable and certified to fly on 100% SAF by 2030. This procurement further demonstrates Boeing’s commitment to SAF as a viable aviation industry decarbonization solution.
Boeing began SAF test flights in 2008, helped gain approval for commercial use in 2011 and enabled airplane delivery flights with SAF starting in 2012. The 2018 Boeing ecoDemonstrator conducted the industry’s first 100% SAF commercial airplane test flight on a 777 Freighter in partnership with FedEx. In 2019, Boeing began offering customers the option to power commercial delivery flights with SAF to demonstrate commitment to reducing CO2 and further spur the use of cleaner fuels.
