Buyers expected to spend $30 million at new sustainable aviation platform

A new online platform has been launched to simplify the process of purchasing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by allowing buyers to compare prices and other attributes of different fuels quickly. Fuels derived from waste cooking oil and other sustainable sources are crucial for the aviation industry’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

Buyers, either working independently or through the Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance (SABA), typically start by requesting proposals from SAF suppliers for evaluation, a process that can take up to 24 months. To streamline this process, SABA has introduced the SAFc Connect platform, providing information on carbon intensity, pricing, feedstock, and other attributes of pre-vetted SAF certificates.

The platform is accessible to alliance members, including companies like Amazon, Deloitte, and Netflix. With the book-and-claim system, buyers can use certificates to offset aviation emissions without directly using SAF. SABA anticipates that more SAF providers will join the platform in the coming months, expanding the options available to buyers.

In addition to SAF, SABA has issued a request for proposals for next-generation sustainable fuels, such as “e-fuels,” produced from CO2 and water using renewable energy. This move aims to address concerns about the sustainability of fuels derived from crops, which are expected to play a significant role in the market’s short-term growth.

SABA has facilitated over $400 million in SAF certificate demand since its launch in 2021, with members expected to generate an immediate demand of about $30 million through the SAFc Connect platform. The alliance’s efforts align with the industry’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable aviation practices.