Shell Aviation will support its long-term strategic partner SkyNRG in the development of the first dedicated sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production plant in Europe. The fuel company will provide technical and commercial expertise to the DSL-01 project in Delfzijl, Netherlands, which is slated to be commissioned in 2022, and in doing so, will secure the option to purchase SAF produced at the facility.
“This first dedicated plant is a crucial milestone in accelerating the supply of sustainable aviation fuels in Europe and will contribute to a reduction in emissions in the aviation sector,” said Anna Mascolo, Shell Aviation’s vice president. “At Shell, we have started the journey, although we recognize there is a lot more to do to avoid, reduce, and offset carbon emissions.”
DSL-01 will utilize waste feedstocks such as used cooking oil, derived predominantly from regional industries, and will be powered by locally sourced sustainable hydrogen. The plant will produce 100,000 tonnes of SAF a year, corresponding to a reduction of lifecycle CO2 emissions of approximately 270,000 tonnes. Combined with the green production factors, the lifecycle carbon emissions for the fuel produced there will be around 85 percent lower than that of conventional jet fuel.
SkyNRG was founded in 2010 by a partnership including Dutch airline KLM, which has agreed to purchase 75,000 tonnes of SAF a year, equating to three-quarters of the plant's output.
“This is an important project for the development of the sustainable aviation fuel market, and with its global operational experience and technical expertise, Shell is a natural partner to help accelerate its progress,” said SkyNRG managing director Maarten van Dijk."The shared ambitions and collaborative approach of the companies involved sends a strong signal to the rest of our industry of the actions required to deliver a sustainable future for aviation."