Neste signs deal for 7,500 tonnes SAF with Amazon Air

Neste has reached an agreement with Amazon to provide 7,500 tonnes (2.5 million gallons) of neat Neste MY sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for its Amazon Air cargo operations at San Francisco International Airport and Ontario International Airport in California, through to the end of 2025.

The agreement makes Amazon the first company to purchase and use SAF at Ontario International Airport, ranked among the top 10 cargo airports in the U.S, according to a release from Neste.

"Amazon has made a commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions across its global operations by 2040, and adopting SAF is a key lever to decarbonise its air cargo operations. The agreement to use SAF in California is part of a broader cooperation between Amazon and Neste that started four years ago when Neste delivered SAF to Amazon at Cologne Bonn Airport in 2021."

Neste’s SAF is blended with conventional jet fuel and supplied to the Amazon Air network at both airports, the release added. "The first volumes were successfully delivered earlier this year. Leveraging Neste's SAF supply capabilities established in Northern California in 2020, the fuel is delivered directly to San Francisco International Airport via existing pipeline infrastructure. For Amazon Air’s operation at Ontario International Airport, the SAF is delivered to the airport by trucks from Neste’s SAF terminal facilities in Los Angeles by Diesel Direct, Neste’s long-term partner. Diesel Direct uses Neste’s renewable diesel to fuel trucks dedicated to the SAF deliveries to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from SAF transportation."

Carl Nyberg, Senior Vice President, Commercial, Renewable Products, Neste says: "We are excited to provide SAF to Amazon Air at two major airports in California. This milestone sends a positive signal that SAF is available to airlines and cargo operators like Amazon Air at these airports. Our supply chain solution for these California gateways builds on our existing SAF supply capabilities on the West Coast in the U.S., and leverages our partnership with Diesel Direct to transport SAF by trucks running on renewable diesel. This demonstrates how renewable fuels can help our customers easily reduce greenhouse gas emissions across different transportation modes."

Using Neste MY SAF reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 percent over the fuel’s life cycle compared to using conventional jet fuel. Neste’s global SAF production capability is 1.5 million tonnes (around 515 million gallons) per annum, and it is set to grow to 2.2 million tonnes (around 750 million gallons) in 2027, the release added.