Latest news with #sustainableAviationFuel
Skift
03-06-2025
- Business
- Skift
'Great Green Scam': IATA Chief Blames EU, Fuel Giants for Slow Climate Progress
The head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Willie Walsh, is blaming governments and fuel producers for stalling progress on aviation's climate goals. Speaking at an aviation meeting in India on Monday, Walsh said governments, particularly the European Union, have failed to provide the support needed to scale sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). 'From the outset we made it clear that it would be challenging and that the airlines could not do this on their own,' he said. 'Despite their enthusiasm, governments did not create a supportive policy framework to meet their 2030 interim target. The companies we need to be major SAF players like BP and Shell have cut back or delayed their investment.' According to IATA, when airlines use SAF in the EU, they have to pay compliance fees which cover the cost of blending the fuel and checking it meets the policy's requirements. 'It is an outrage that suppliers are charging airlines compliance fees that value SAF at double its market premium over conventional jet fuel. That's a billion-dollar windfall for fuel suppliers. This is the EU's great green scam.' Pressure Mounts Ahead of 2030 Aviation Climate Target IATA Directer willie walsh blamed governments and fuel producers for aviation's slow climate progress In 2021, IATA member airlines, which represent most of the global aviation sector, committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050. But with demand for flying rebounding sharply post-pandemic, progress has been slow. Governments gave airlines an interim target of reducing emissions by 5% by 2030. However, after a drop in emissions during Covid-19, airline emissions are expected to return to, or even exceed 2019 levels this year, according to Carbon Action Tracker. Walsh directed his sharpest criticism at the European Union's current policy, which requires airlines to use at least 2% SAF in their fuel mix by 2030. 'The EU mandate of 2% SAF in the jet fuel supply has succeeded in raising costs but has done nothing to improve production,' Walsh said. Fuel Producers Push Back Fuels Europe, which represents companies like BP and Shell, have rejected the aviation industry's claims. 'We reject claims from the aviation sector suggesting a lack of sustainable aviation fuel supply,' the group said in a statement. 'Our members are on track to meet their current mandate and exceed 2030 targets. Despite policy and investment challenges, European fuel producers have rapidly scaled SAF output and lowered costs.' An EU spokesperson told Skift it is helping with the transition to SAF through a range of initiatives such as its Refuel EU program and that the current targets are "realistic and feasible." "The implementation of ReFuelEU Aviation has already begun to stimulate production capacity within the EU, with SAF supply starting to outpace mandated minimum shares. This is a positive and necessary signal," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson said the EU is watching the price of SAF closely and recognizes that there continues to be "significant barriers to commercial deployment, primarily due to insufficient investment." They said there will be a dialogue on SAF later this year, with the goal of improving financing and de-risking investment. Skift's in-depth reporting on climate issues is made possible through the financial support of Intrepid Travel. This backing allows Skift to bring you high-quality journalism on one of the most important topics facing our planet today. Intrepid is not involved in any decisions made by Skift's editorial team.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Construction begins on Infinium's e-fuels production site in Texas
Construction has commenced on Project Roadrunner in Texas, Infinium's second e-fuels production site in the US. The venue is poised to be the world's largest e-fuels production plant upon completion. Located in Reeves County, near Pecos city, the facility is set to produce 23,000 tonnes (t) per year of sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF) along with other e-fuel products. The project is supported by investors such as alternative asset management company Brookfield Asset Management and Breakthrough Energy Catalyst, an initiative of Bill Gates that invests in projects using emerging climate technologies. Once operational, it will supply e-fuels to aviation companies, including American Airlines and International Airlines Group (IAG), which encompasses British Airways and Aer Lingus among other international airline brands. E-fuels are synthetic fuels that are produced using waste carbon dioxide (CO₂) and renewable energy, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based fuels. These fuels can be incorporated into existing transportation and chemical sector infrastructures and manufacturing processes. Infinium reportedly became the first company in 2023 to produce and distribute commercial volumes of e-fuels in the US and Europe from its Project Pathfinder facility in Corpus Christi, Texas. The Roadrunner project has now attained financial close and represents a significant investment in the Texas region, supporting the creation of skilled jobs in construction, operations, and logistics. The commercial agreements for Project Roadrunner have been structured to attract necessary capital and debt for the scaling of the e-fuels market. The facility will utilise waste CO₂ and renewable energy, including 150MW of new wind generation capacity secured from a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, a wholesale power generator. Electrolyser manufacturer Electric Hydrogen will supply a 100MW HYPRPlant solution for on-site green hydrogen production, which will not only serve the eSAF facility but also support future hydrogen offtake opportunities. The e-fuels produced at the Roadrunner facility will be available for domestic use and for export to international markets. An agreement with IAG will see eSAF shipped to the UK to meet the requirements of the UK SAF Mandate, which mandates that by 2030, at least 10% of jet fuel used in UK flights must be sourced from sustainable feedstocks. Construction is underway on the Roadrunner facility, which is expected to begin commercial operations by 2027. This growth not only offers alternative low-carbon fuel options but also contributes to the diversification of the energy supply chain, stated Infinium. Infinium CEO Robert Schuetzle said: "Not only will the project produce commercial eSAF for its customers, it will bring highly skilled jobs and economic growth to the Pecos community and state of Texas. "This project demonstrates the ongoing commitment of Infinium, its investors, and partners to help ensure that the United States remains a global leader in energy security, resilience and innovation." "Construction begins on Infinium's e-fuels production site in Texas" was originally created and published by World Construction Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
