Summary
- Spanish carrier Air Europa and Cepsa are partnering to operate long-haul flights between Madrid and Havana using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), a primary for Spain.
- Cepsa will provide 14.4 tons of SAF to Air Europa for one 12 months, leading to roughly 50 tons of CO2 emissions saved and meeting objectives set by the EU’s “ReFuelEU Aviation” initiative.
- Cepsa is investing in second-generation biofuel production to advertise sustainability in aviation and plans to construct the most important biofuel plant in southern Europe to fulfill SAF demand.
The Spanish carrier Air Europa and Cepsa have formed an alliance for the airline to operate long-haul flights between Madrid International Airport (MAD) and Havana International (HAV) using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced from organic waste and used cooking oils. That is the primary time two Spanish firms have established a daily supply of SAF for a particular air route.
SAF partnership
The energy company Cepsa will provide 14.4 tons of sustainable aviation fuel to Air Europa for one 12 months to cover the primary monthly flight between Madrid and Havana. Throughout the collaboration period, Air Europa will save roughly 50 tons of CO2 emissions, such as planting about 575 trees.
Photo: Martin Leber/Shutterstock.
These flights, which can contain 2% SAF within the aircraft’s tank (Air Europa employs its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet to cover the route), will function a test to fulfill the objectives set by the European Union in its legislative initiative “ReFuelEU Aviation,” said Cepsa in a press release. This initiative is designed to advertise sustainability within the aviation sector.
Moreover, the Cepsa-Air Europa partnership fulfills the commitments made by the airline when it comes to sustainability, one among the cornerstones of its 2023-2025 Strategic Plan, said Jesús Nuño de la Rosa, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Air Europa.
The biofuel
Currently, there isn’t a obligation to employ SAF in flights in Europe. Nonetheless, the brand new ReFuelEU Aviation regulation would require European airlines to increasingly incorporate using sustainable fuels in the approaching years: 2% by 2025, 6% by 2030, and 70% by 2050.
Cepsa is seeking to produce this second-generation biofuel at its La Rábida Energy Park within the Spanish province of Huelva. It employs organic waste and used cooking oils. In line with the corporate, these second-generation biofuels have the potential to cut back aircraft emissions by as much as 90%, compared to traditional kerosene, and promote the circular economy by being produced from waste that will otherwise find yourself in landfills. Tobi Pardo, director of Aviation at Cepsa, said,
While the aviation industry is taking a look at recent technologies (akin to hydrogen and electricity) to fuel future aircraft, SAF stays the longer term alternative to assist reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Photo: Adomas Daunoravicius/Shutterstock.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates SAF could contribute around 65% of the reduction in emissions needed by aviation to succeed in net-zero in 2050. Nonetheless, to attain this, an enormous increase in production as a way to meet demand is required.
To make sure SAF supply to its customers, Cepsa is developing the most important second-generation biofuel plant in southern Europe. In collaboration with Bio-Oils, it’s investing up to 1 billion Euros. This facility, which can start operation in 2026 in Huelva, can have the capability to supply as much as 500,000 tons of SAF and renewable diesel.
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