San Francisco Airport (SFO) in the US has marked a milestone in its journey to achieving not just carbon neutrality but also net zero energy and zero waste.

Neste, the world’s largest producer of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) made from waste and residue raw materials, has delivered its first batch of SAF to SFO via pipeline. Branded Neste My Renewable Jet Fuel, the SAF will be used by major airlines committed to reducing their carbon emissions.

The pipelines used to deliver SAF to the airport were originally designed to carry fossil fuels and other oil products. Alternatively the fuel would be delivered by truck, which would in turn have used fossil fuel. To get the fuel from Houston in Texas where it was produced, Neste teamed up with Crowley, a family-owned vessel logistcs and management company based in Florida. Crowley transported Neste’s SAF to California on a US flagged tanker where it was stored in a refurbished tank that had previously been used to store oil products before being safely delivered to SFO.

Neste’s SAF is made from sustainably sourced 100% renewable waste and residue materials, like used cooking oil or animal fats, instead of crude oil. It is 80% less carbon intensive over its lifecycle than traditional fossil jet fuels so offers an immediate solution for reducing the direct greenhouse gas emissions of flying. The volume of SAF that Neste expects to provide to SFO will deliver roughly the same greenhouse gas emissions reductions as taking 1,200 flights between SFO and New York City on an A320 or 737 out of service.

“To anyone wondering what the future of air travel is – it will be low-emission, it will be sustainable, and it will be powered by sustainable aviation fuel,” said Chris Cooper, VP for Renewable Aviation at Neste North America. “The FAA expects more than 1.3 billion Americans to board an aircraft in 2040. This milestone shows that Neste is ready to play its part to help the aviation industry plan for and create a sustainable future where we can keep these people flying with a much, much smaller carbon footprint.”

Meanwhile, SFO’s Airport Direcotr Ivar C. Satero commented: “This is a major milestone in our goal to make SFO a hub for the use of SAF in our pursuit of carbon neutrality.” He added, “By focusing on the entire supply chain process, achievements like this one have the power to transform the landscape of our entire industry. I am grateful for our partnership with Neste to make this climate quantum leap a reality.”

The deal is part of the airport’s five-year strategy to achieving not just carbon neutrality, but also net zero energy and zero waste.

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