Airbus takes a significant step toward the large-scale adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) by testing a new “Book and Claim” approach.
The first Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by SMBC Aviation Capital, followed by AerCap, Comlux, Luxaviation, Novespace, Rive Private Investment, and SAF Aerogroup, who confirmed their interest in joining this collaborative initiative, reinforcing the industry-wide intent to increase SAF adoption.
In simple terms, the book and claim system allows the buyer to "reserve" a certain amount of SAF and "claim" the corresponding emission reduction, even if the fuel is used elsewhere. Through a pilot program running through 2025, Airbus will leverage this system to improve SAF accessibility for potential customers, especially those with limited volumes and those far from supply points.
As a facilitator, Airbus will purchase SAF certificates and manage the associated sustainability attributes through the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) registry, a recognized sustainability certification body. These certificates will then be resold to interested customers, such as aircraft and
helicopter operators, thereby stimulating short-term demand for SAF.
The pilot program is expected to generate key insights into the capacity and robustness of this innovative book and claim mechanism. It will also assess market interest in third-party facilitation of these integrated SAF solutions.
Julien Manhes, Head of Sustainable Aviation Fuels and Carbon Dioxide Removal at Airbus, comments: “Supporting the SAF book and claim mechanism is an immediate solution that contributes to the emergence and expansion of the global SAF market. For many smaller operators, gaining access to SAF can be a challenge, depending on the quantity of SAF needed. Through this initiative, Airbus can simplify and de-risk the process for operators and SAF suppliers by financially securing SAF certificates upfront and sharing them when customers need them.”
This is also a great opportunity to demonstrate that the book and claim system is reliable and that its use should be expanded to both voluntary and regulatory markets.”
Source: Airbus.