January 25, 2019
By Erin Voegele
Gevo Inc. made two announcements in mid-January regarding its efforts to expand the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The company supplied its fuel to an airport in California and signed on to an existing coalition that aims to expand the use of SAF.
On Jan. 17, Gevo announced it was supplying its alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) to Avfuel Corp. for use at the “Business Jets Fuel Green: A step Toward Sustainability” event, which was held that day at the Van Nuys Airport in Southern California. According to Gevo, the event aimed to demonstrate that renewable jet fuel, including Gevo’s ATJ, can become a mainstream, drop-in alterative for today’s general aviation aircraft. During the event, Avfuel offered a blend of traditional jet fuel and Gevo’s ATJ.
“There are more than 210,000 aircraft in the general and business aviation sector in the U.S. alone. With more than 650 Avfuel-branded locations and 3,000-plus fueling locations, our partnership with Avfuel has allowed us to begin to effectively support this market and the market goals to achieve carbon neutrality from 2020 and beyond,” said Patrick R. Gruber, CEO of Gevo. “This event demonstrates our partnership and mutual commitment with Avfuel to feed the world, sequester carbon dioxide and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
Less than one week later, on Jan. 22, Gevo announced it has joined with the San Francisco International Airport (SFO), certain airlines and other industry participants for the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). The company said it has signed onto a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Chevron Corp., Shell Oil Co., Neste and Lanzatech Inc. and others to work cooperatively on expanding the use of SAF at SFO. The consortium was originally formed in September 2018.
“With this Memorandum of Understanding, we’re moving the dial on an entire industry,” said Ivar C. Satero, director director at SFO. “A quantum leap of this kind requires partnering with like-minded organizations, and we’re pleased that Gevo has joined the airlines and fuel suppliers who are committed to expanding the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel in air transportation.”
Read the original article: Gevo Supplies ATJ to California Airport, Joins SAF Coalition