Shell & Accenture's Blockchain Solution for Scaling SAF
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has the potential to slash aircraft CO₂ emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional jet fuel—this would equal a reduction of about 2% of global emissions across all sectors.
In 2018, air freight was responsible for nearly 20% of all aviation emissions and by 2023, the volume of air cargo flights had surged by 25%.
Integrating SAF into supply chains could therefore have a huge impact on emissions reductions.
Enter Avelia, a cutting-edge digital platform engineered by Shell and Accenture, with backing from Amex Global Business Travel (Amex GBT).
Designed to democratise access to SAF, Avelia has extended its reach into the air freight sector with Avelia Air Freight Solutions.
Avelia's blockchain technology
Using blockchain, Avelia has facilitated the delivery of more than 18 million gallons of SAF and helped to avoid more than 165,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions in business travel alone.
As a blockchain-powered reservation system for SAF purchases, Avelia presents an efficient and transparent method to acquire detailed, traceable environmental data about SAF.
This programme supports not only individual and business ventures in reducing their air travel emissions but also facilitates the affordability and accessibility of SAF for airlines.
"The high cost of SAF requires innovative solutions. By enabling the sharing of environmental attributes between physical SAF users and organisations seeking to meet their sustainability targets, Avelia creates a pathway for broader participation in aviation decarbonisation," says Raman Ojha, President of Shell Aviation.
"Avelia is now evolving to meet the air freight sector's need for solutions to demonstrate verified emissions reduction progress.
“Through enabling freight forwarders to access and allocate SAF environmental attributes to their shipping customers, both parties can access these attributes for emissions disclosure while supporting broader SAF adoption."
To date, the initiative has attracted involvement from major corporations and airlines, including industry giants such as Google, Delta Air Lines and Bank of America.
Accelerating freight decarbonisation
The versatile Avelia platform offers customisable solutions which can support freight forwarders to present SAF options to their clients or to integrate with existing SAF programmes.
With the extension of this service to include air freight handling, stakeholders now possess new opportunities to fast-track SAF adoption throughout the aviation sector, thereby accelerating the decarbonisation process.
Already delivering SAF at 13 global airport locations and endorsed by more than 35 airlines and corporations, Avelia is setting a sustainable course for the future of aviation logistics.
Raman says: “SAF is the only scalable in-sector solution for decarbonising aviation.
“At Shell Aviation, we are pleased to continue our relationship with Amex GBT through Avelia, helping to connect corporate travel demand with SAF supply.
“It is a great example of cross-value chain collaboration leading to the innovative platforms we need to progress the sustainable future of aviation.”
Paul Abbott, Amex GBT CEO, says: “Avelia’s growth is proof that corporate travel can play a pivotal role in scaling the sustainable technologies needed to address air travel emissions.
Other adopters of Avelia include Rolls-Royce and Aon.
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