Airbus collaborates with DG Fuels to promote the manufacture of eco-friendly jet fuel in the USA
Airbus, a global leader in aerospace, has partnered with DG Fuels to advance the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the United States. This collaboration aims to support the scaling of SAF production capacity, contributing to the reduction of the aviation industry's carbon footprint from 2026 onwards.
The partnership is in line with broader industry targets to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 30% from 2026. This reduction is part of a phased approach where initial technology maturation and SAF-focused work takes place between 2022 and 2025, followed by integration and demonstration phases from 2026 to 2031. The goal is to launch next-generation low-emission aircraft by around 2035 with significant CO2 reductions.
DG Fuels, a company specialising in carbon-efficient solutions, produces hydrogen via water electrolysis and biomass-derived carbon replacement fuel for aircraft, locomotives, vessels, and trucks. Their technology ties together power, fuel, and SAF provision for their customers.
Airbus has been a pioneer in sustainable aviation fuel since 2008, offering SAF at delivery flights since 2016. The company's operations and logistics, including the Beluga fleet, have been operating with SAF since 2019.
The partnership between Airbus and DG Fuels is aligned with the U.S. government-sponsored SAF Grand Challenge, which aims to reduce costs, improve sustainability, and expand domestic SAF production. DG Fuels' plant, expected to produce 120 million US gallons (454 million litres) of SAF per year, could potentially save 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually from 2026.
The national programme aims to produce 3 billion US gallons of domestic sustainable aviation fuel per year by 2030, achieving at least a 50% reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional fuel.
Airbus' CEO, Guillaume Faury, stated that sustainable aviation fuels are crucial for aviation's decarbonisation roadmap. DG Fuels' Chairman and CEO, Michael Darcy, expressed excitement about the partnership with Airbus, as it supports DG Fuels' goal of launching the equity process and reaching a final investment decision (FID) on building DG Fuels' first SAF plant in the United States, expected by early 2024.
Detailed information about Airbus' action plan on sustainable aviation fuels can be found on their website. For more information about DG Fuels, visit their website at https://dgfuels.com/. The partnership aims to produce SAF from cellulosic waste products and renewable energy sources, delivering environmental benefits and helping customers address sustainability goals.
Airbus' use of SAF plays an important role in the sector's decarbonisation journey. By 2050, the programme aims to produce 35 billion US gallons of annual SAF production, equivalent to meeting all projected aviation fuel consumption. This ambitious goal underscores Airbus' commitment to a sustainable future for aviation.
- The partnership between Airbus and DG Fuels, focusing on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production, aligns with the broader goal of reducing CO2 emissions in the aviation industry by at least 30% from 2026.
- DG Fuels' production of SAF from cellulosic waste products and renewable energy sources not only benefits the environment but also helps customers meet their sustainability goals.
- The collaboration between Airbus and DG Fuels, with the aim of producing SAF, is part of a national program targeting the production of 3 billion US gallons of domestic SAF per year by 2030, helping achieve at least a 50% reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional fuel.
