Boeing Ready to Buy 7.5 Million Gallons of SAF

The purchase marks Boeing’s largest annual SAF purchase to date, 60 percent more than in 2023, Neste said.

“Sustainable aviation fuel is essential to decarbonize aviation," Ryan Faucett, vice president of environmental sustainability at Boeing, said in a statement. "About 20 percent of our fuel usage is a SAF blend, and we continue to increase our use of this fuel to encourage growth in the SAF industry. We are also working to make SAF more available and affordable to our commercial airline customers through collaboration, investment, research, and policy development."

SAF is a renewable aviation fuel consisting of 30 percent renewable waste and residue raw materials, such as fats, oils, and greases used in cooking, which is blended with 70 percent conventional jet fuel. 

According to Neste, the use of SAF reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 percent over the fuel’s life cycle, compared to using conventional jet fuel.

The total volume of blended SAF purchased will be supplied to Boeing’s commercial operations directly or through a book-and-claim system, according to the company. Four million gallons of blended SAF are destined for Boeing fuel farms in the Pacific Northwest. EPIC Fuels, a Signature Aviation company, will supply 2.5 million gallons and Avfuel will provide 1.5 million gallons of blended SAF from Neste. 

This latest order will be used to support the Boeing ecoDemonstrator program and Boeing’s U.S. commercial operational flights through 2024.

Boeing will also purchase SAF certificates corresponding to the emission reduction provided by the use of 3.5 million gallons of Neste-produced blended SAF produced through a book-and-claim system.

Book and claim is an accounting process in which a company purchases SAF certificates to displace conventional jet fuel. Instead of putting the fuel into a Boeing fuel farm, distributors will deliver it to nearby airports for use by airlines and other carriers, ensuring the corresponding SAF use and related greenhouse gas emission reductions.

“Sustainable aviation fuel is a key lever to reduce aviation emissions,” said Carrie Song, senior vice president of commercial renewable products at Neste. “Working together with aviation sector leaders like Boeing is crucial in accelerating SAF usage and production."