Air New Zealand has welcomed its first shipment of 500,000-litre Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) into Wellington. The airline announced that this is a step towards achieving its Net-Zero carbon emissions goal by 2050.
Produced by EcoCeres in China exclusively from 100% used cooking oil, and supplied and blended by Exxon Mobil, this 500,000-litre delivery is equivalent to 165 flights on an A320 aircraft between Auckland and Wellington.
The SAF delivered to Wellington offers life-cycle carbon emissions savings of at least 80% compared to traditional fossil jet fuel.
Air New Zealand’s Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, Kiri Hannifin, said moving away from purely using fossil fuels for Air New Zealand’s operations is critical.
Hannifin said, “Airlines are signing supply arrangements for SAF 10 years into the future and beyond, so we need to be part of the picture from the start otherwise New Zealand may fall behind. While the volumes of SAF we are buying are very small compared to the amount of fossil jet fuel we use, they give an important signal to alternative fuel producers that we are open for business.”
Read more: Air New Zealand explores partnership for green fuel supply to meet net-zero goals
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts added, “Transport energy accounts for 18% of New Zealand’s total emissions, so it is encouraging to see the industry take steps towards sustainable practices as New Zealand transitions to a low emissions future.”
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has revealed that SAF production is expected to triple in 2024.
Yet, it will only be able to meet 0.53% of global aviation fuel demand. Air New Zealand is currently engaged in two feasibility studies exploring opportunities for domestic production of alternative jet fuels.