Google has joined the blockchain, book-and-claim sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) platform by American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) and Shell Aviation, powered by Avelia. The collaboration builds on Google’s goal to reach net zero across all its operations and value chain by 2030.
The sustainable aviation programme is powered by Avelia, one of the first blockchain-powered digital SAF book-and-claim solutions for business travel. Using blockchain, Avelia provides transparent tracking of the environmental attributes of SAF delivered into the aviation fueling network.
“Joining Amex GBT’s sustainable aviation program further represents Google’s continued efforts to accelerate the global transition to a carbon-free future,” said Michael Terrell, Senior Director of Climate and Energy, Google. “Amex GBT and Shell Aviation’s SAF program demonstrates how the private sector can drive systemic change and help finance aviation’s transition to net zero by bringing together major corporations such as Google, Aon, Bank of America, Delta, Cathay Pacific, JetBlue and Japan Airlines.
“The program launched in 2022 with 1 million gallons of SAF available for corporate customers – enough to power almost 15,000 business trips from London to New York,” added Terrell.
Andrew Crawley, president, American Express Global Business Travel, said: “To have Google join our growing SAF program demonstrates how corporate collaboration can accelerate aviation’s transition to net zero and enable more sustainable travel. With air travel accounting for around 90% of business travel emissions, sustainable business travel means addressing a deep-rooted problem: aviation’s dependence on fossil fuels. SAF, when used neat, can reduce lifecycle carbon emissions by as much as 80% when compared to traditional fossil-based fuels.
“It is currently the aviation industry’s most promising pathway to decarbonizing air travel,” he added. “By drawing from Shell Aviation’s airline customers and the purchasing power of Amex GBT’s 19,000+ corporate customers across 140 countries, the cost of SAF can be co-funded and help scale its use. This demand signals capital investment in the additional production facilities and technologies needed to achieve economies of scale, helping the nascent SAF industry take off.”
Image: Shell Aviation
