Thursday 28 July 2022

Boeing and Alder Fuels partner to expand SAF production globally

Boeing and Alder Fuels have announced a new partnership to expand the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) globally.

The companies will test and qualify Alder-derived SAF using Boeing airlines, help advance policies to accelerate the transition to renewables in aviation and increase the amount of SAF for the global aerospace market.

Alder Fuels' technology efficiently converts sustainable forest residues and regenerative biomass into a low-negative carbon, i.e. “greencrude”, for jet fuel conversion.

It is suitable for conversion into drop-in SAF, which means it can be produced by existing refineries with their current equipment and infrastructure.

Alder Fuels CEO Bryan Sherbacow said: “Alder's technology offers a future of gathering energy to power aircraft, instead of drilling for it, by converting widely available sustainable biomass into a sustainable product for refining into SAF.

“We can now scale up supply to meet the aviation industry's demand. This partnership with Boeing will expedite SAF availability around the globe, advance policies that ensure sustainability and foster environmental justice and cultivate local economies.”

Boeing will support the testing and qualification of the SAF from Alder Fuels – which expects its first plant to be completed in 2024 - through flight demonstrations to ensure readiness.

It supports Boeing commitment's to deliver 100% SAF-capable airplanes by 2030.

Sheila Remes, Boeing's Vice President of Environmental Sustainability added: “As we work toward the civil aviation industry's commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, we know that 700 – 1,000 times more SAF is needed in order to meet this goal.

“We also know that according to the US Department of Energy, US forestry and agricultural residues alone could provide enough biomass energy to generate enough SAF jet fuel to displace 75% of U.S. aviation fuel consumption. Partnerships like those with Alder enable us all to advocate for and scale SAF supply.”