Page 13 - IB May 2025

The Future of Aviation Fuel:

Viva Energy’s Role in Sustainable Aviation

In the journey for a more sustainable future, the aviation Australia that manages renewable energy programs and
industry is turning to innovative solutions to reduce its investments, to develop SAF infrastructure to supply
carbon footprint. One such solution is Sustainable Aviation Brisbane Airport. This $2.39 million funding will be used
Fuel (SAF), a game-changer in the world of aviation. SAF to refurbish and upgrade existing infrastructure, including
is a renewable aviation fuel produced from renewable reconditioning a fuel storage tank at the Pinkenba Terminal
resources such as waste oils, agricultural residues, and in Queensland. This tank will provide dedicated storage
non-food crops. for SAF, facilitating its distribution to Brisbane Airport via
SAF’s importance cannot be overstated. It offers a viable pipeline.
path to achieving the aviation industry’s ambitious goal of The project also includes the implementation of a
net-zero emissions by 2050, reducing carbon emissions book-and-claim system, enabling customers to trade
by up to 80% over its lifecycle. SAF is blended with sustainability certificates and claim the environmental
conventional jet fuel to approved maximum blend rates and benefits of SAF. This innovative approach will provide
can be used in existing aircraft and fuelling infrastructure critical learnings for the broader industry, helping to
without modification – making the transition seamless. establish a robust SAF supply chain and reducing barriers
In a significant development, Viva Energy has partnered to the adoption of SAF in Australia.
with Virgin Australia to supply SAF for flights departing Nick Adams, Viva Energy’s General Manager for
from Proserpine, Queensland. This collaboration, running Aviation, says that SAF will play an increasingly significant
from March to July 2025, marks a crucial step in integrating role for commercial airlines as they move towards a more
SAF into regular flight operations. The SAF provided by sustainable future.
Viva Energy consists of a blend of Jet A1 fuel and a 30- Partnerships like the one between Viva Energy and Virgin
40% synthetic component derived from waste and residue Australia, along with the support from ARENA, underscore
feedstocks. This blend meets all regulatory and safety the critical role that SAF will play in the future of aviation.
requirements, ensuring that it can be used without any These initiatives not only demonstrate the feasibility of SAF
disruptions to flight operations. but also pave the way for its broader adoption, contributing
SAF represents a critical long-term opportunity for to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly aviation
reducing carbon emissions in commercial aviation. Virgin industry. As the world continues to grapple with the
Australia’s collaboration with Viva Energy is seen as a challenges of climate change, these are the collaborations
pivotal move towards making SAF more affordable and and innovations that will be essential to drive the transition
accessible, which is essential for achieving the lowest to a cleaner future.
cost carbon abatement while maintaining the vital role of SAF – where mentioned in the article refers to Sustainable Aviation Fuel,
aviation in connecting communities. which is a synthetic blending component that is blended with conventional
Viva Energy’s commitment to sustainable aviation Jet A-1 fuel to produce SAF Blend Jet A1. The maximum blend rate
percentage in the final product is set and approved by the relevant annex
extends beyond this partnership. The company has
in the ASTM D7566 standard and subsequently blended with conventional
secured funding from the Australian Renewable Energy jet fuel and certified to ASTM D1655 (or Defence Standard 91-091) and is
Agency (ARENA), an independent government agency in supplied as a conventional Jet A-1 fuel.
Sponsored Content
Islands Business May 2025 13