Southwest Airways introduced a brand new provide settlement for as much as 25 million gallons of sustainable aviation gas (SAF) to be used at Chicago Halfway Worldwide Airport (MDW) with Valero Vitality Company subsidiary Valero Advertising and marketing and Provide Firm. The deal marks Illinois’ largest introduced SAF provide settlement so far.
The settlement follows the discharge final yr by Southwest of its up to date sustainability technique, “Nonstop to Internet Zero.” Southwest’s local weather objectives embrace attaining internet zero emissions by 2050, and decreasing emissions depth by 25% by 2030 and 50% by 2035. The technique additionally features a goal to interchange 10% of its complete jet gas consumption with SAF by 2030.
Underneath the brand new settlement, Southwest will buy at the least of three.6 million gallons of neat SAF (about 12 million gallons blended) to be used in its operations as early as This fall 2024, with an choice to buy as much as 25 million gallons of neat SAF (about 84 million gallons blended). In line with Southwest, this could signify as much as 35% of the airline’s jet gas out of MDW, primarily based on the service’s utilization within the final yr.
The neat SAF for the brand new settlement can be provided by Valero and Darling Substances three way partnership Diamond Inexperienced Diesel, which produces renewable fuels from recycled animal fat, used cooking oil and inedible corn oil, blended with Valero’s standard jet gas and delivered by way of present gas supply infrastructure. In line with Southwest, lifecycle greenhouse gasoline emissions discount from the neat SAF ranges from 74% to 84% in comparison with standard jet gas.
Southwest mentioned that the settlement was made attainable by the Illinois Sustainable Aviation Gasoline Buy Credit score and help from clients within the airline’s Scope 3 SAF Program.
Michael AuBuchon, Managing Director of Gasoline Technique and Administration at Southwest Airways, mentioned:
“Right this moment’s announcement marks a milestone in our efforts to make the most of extra SAF in our operation. We’re grateful to the state of Illinois for making the Sustainable Aviation Gasoline Buy Credit score out there to airways serving Illinois, and we thank our unimaginable Company Prospects for supporting our use of SAF, which is a good instance of public-private collaboration that we anticipate will assist scale SAF and meet our long-term sustainability objectives.”
