Neste and United Airlines have signed a new purchase agreement that provides United the right to buy up to 160,000 tonnes (52.5m gallons) of Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ over the next three years.
The sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) will fuel United flights at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, and potentially other airports as well.
With this agreement, United became the first US airline to make an international purchase agreement for SAF.
Said Lauren Riley, United’s Chief Sustainability Officer: “Reducing carbon emissions from fuel use is the fastest way United will reach 100% green goal by 2050. As the leading US airline globally, it makes sense to accelerate our use of SAF and expand our network of partners internationally with a leading company like Neste.
“The demand from our customers to limit their emissions from flying is growing exponentially, and this agreement means that United customers flying from Amsterdam will be partners in our sustainability efforts.”
Neste will provide United with 7,500 metric tons (2.5m gallons) of SAF in Amsterdam in the first year. United will also have the right to purchase up to 60,000 tonnes (20m gallons) in the second year, and up to 90,000 tonnes (30m gallons) in the third year, at Amsterdam or other locations that Neste can supply throughout the globe, as Neste increases its SAF production globally.
This supply agreement is enabled by Neste’s ambitious growth strategy, which will see the company producing 1.5m tonnes (515m gallons) of SAF per annum by the end of 2023. Neste has been producing and delivering SAF since 2011 and has a proven track record of supplying SAF to customers in Europe, Asia and the Americas.
“We’re excited to be partnering with United in this milestone purchase agreement and make our SAF available to United, also an industry leader in SAF investments,” said Thorsten Lange, Executive Vice President, Renewable Aviation at Neste.
“Our global, fast-growing SAF production and supply chain supports airlines and their customers in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Neste is committed to helping aviation transition to a more sustainable future, and we look forward to expanding our cooperation with United.”
SAF delivers the performance of conventional jet fuel but with a significantly smaller carbon footprint on a life cycle basis.
Neste’s SAF reduces life cycle greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by up to 80%* compared to conventional jet fuel and burns cleaner than conventional jet fuel reducing non-CO2 emissions, including particulate matter (PM).
Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel is produced from 100% sustainably sourced renewable waste and residue raw materials, including used cooking oil and animal fat waste.
*) Calculated with established life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies, such as CORSIA methodology.
