
Sustainable Aviation Fuel
How does SAF help to decarbonise air travel?
Title: SAF Animation
Duration: 2:54 minutes
Description:
An animated explanation of what Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is, how it is produced, and why it is a scalable solution to reduce aviation emissions.
SAF Animation Transcript
[Background music plays]
Bright, uplifting music
[Animation]
A three dimensional model of Earth rotates then fades to the background at the bottom. On the bottom left side of the screen, the Shell™ pecten logo appears.
[Text displays]
Flightpath: Navigating the Route to Sustainable Aviation
[Text displays]
This episode
How does SAF help to decarbonise air travel?
[Animation]
On right side of the screen, an image of an airplane taking off from a runway.
[Voice over]
Aviation is at the heart of our connected world. As the industry charts a growth path for the
future, it must also reduce its contribution to climate change.
[Animation]
A spinning globe with red, yellow and blue lines connecting different cities around the globe. Fade to an image of an airport with an airplane landing on the right side of the screen.
On the left side of the screen one larger circle with CO2 in it at the top with a downward arrow pointing to a smaller circle with CO2 in it.
[Voice over]
With game-changing technologies like electric or hydrogen propulsion decades away, the aviation industry needs innovative solutions today.
[Animation]
Two futuristic-looking airplane appear then fade out.
[Text displays]
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)
[Voice over]
Sustainable Aviation Fuel, or SAF, is a safe, proven replacement for fossil jet fuel which has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared with conventional jet fuel.
[Animation]
Image of a SAF fuel tank with a yellow pipe coming out of it and a forklift transporting a jet fuel tank from the SAF fuel tank.
[Voice over]
SAF is a “drop-in” fuel, meaning it can be used in today’s aircraft without changes to existing storage, delivery, and fueling systems.
[Text displays]
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared with conventional jet fuel.
Footnote: Reduction in full lifecycle emissions. https://iata.org/contentassets/d13875e9ed784f75bac90f0007603998/saf-what-is-saf.pdf
[Animation]
Three images across the screen: SAF fuel tank on the left, jet fuel refinery tanks with yellow transmission pipes in front of them in the middle and a fuel truck with Shell logo on the right.
[Voice over]
When blended with conventional jet fuel up to 50/50 ratio as per A.S.T.M. guidance, SAF can reduce lifecycle carbon emissions - as well as sulfur oxides and particulate matter - by as much as 40%. This lifecycle CO2 reduction is possible because the renewable biomass used to make SAF today absorbs carbon from the atmosphere.
[Animation]
Grounded airplane with a Shell fuel truck pumping fuel into the wing through a yellow hose.
[Text displays]
50% conventional, 50% SAF and three circles: CO2, SO2, PM with -40% below.
Footnote: Reduction in full lifecycle emissions. https://icao.int/environmental-protection/Documents/ICAO-ENV-Report2019-F1-WEB%20(1).pdf
[Animation]
CO2 at the top with bubbles dropping below being absorbed by trees. A few seconds later an airplane with “SAF” on its fuselage appears on the right with bubbles coming from it being absorbed by CO2 on the left. Below the airplane is an image of a fuel refinery.
Dotted yellow line arrows point from CO2 to trees to fuel refinery to airplane to CO2.
[Voice over]
When SAF combusts in an aircraft engine, the resulting CO2 emissions are simply returning this carbon to the atmosphere. From a life-cycle perspective, there is no net addition of CO2 to the atmosphere from SAF combustion.
[Text displays]
Footnote: Some additional emissions are generated during SAF production.
[Animation]
Square cross-section image of the earth with a yellow dotted line arrow pointing to a land oil rig and oil refinery and another yellow dotted line arrow pointing to an airplane and another yellow dotted line arrow to CO2.
[Voice over]
When fossil fuels are used to provide energy, however, they release carbon from the past, resulting in a net increase of CO2 in the atmosphere.
[Animation]
A building/roadside café with a fuel hose pumping fats and oils into a Shell fuel truck.
[Text displays]
Roadside cafe
[Voice over]
Most SAF today is made by processing biomass consisting of inedible waste fats and oils. In the future other promising methods could make SAF from additional and sustainable non-food feedstocks like biomass, agricultural, municipal, and industrial wastes – and even recycled or captured CO2.
[Animation]
Images of different fuel sources: biomass, agricultural, municipal, industrial and recycled or captured CO2.
[Voice over]
Unlike conventional jet fuel, SAF’s journey from refinery-to-wing is complex due to the additional steps required. Rigorous testing and certification by experts ensure the final product meets strict A.S.T.M. jet-fuel specifications.
[Animation]
Four fuel processing tanks that collect, separate, refine and blend fuel. The words “collect, separate, refine, blend” below tanks fade out to three people checking and inspecting the tank on the far right.
[Text displays]
Collect
Separate
Refine
Blend
[Animation]
Airport with airplanes in the air and on the ground, a bus and four fuel tanks in the foreground.
[Voice over]
Finally, it’s transported and injected into airport fuel tanks, ready for use by all aircraft serviced
from those tanks.
[Animation]
Airplane on a runway taking off.
[Voice over]
Shell is working to bring more sustainable aviation fuel to more airports, so that we can all fly, and emit less.
[Text displays]
Fly and emit less.
[Animation]
Shell pecten
[Text displays]
Shell Aviation
[Voice over]
Find out more about SAF and what it will take to scale at www.shell.com/saf, or submit a query to SAV-Flightpath@Shell.com
[Text displays]
sav-flightpath@shell.com
The effective application of low carbon technologies, such as electric and hydrogen propulsion are unlikely to be in widespread use until 2040 or later. This means that Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) provides the only viable way to reduce aviation emissions significantly in the short to medium-term.
SAF can be made from renewable sources such as used cooking oil, municipal waste and woody biomass. It is a safe, proven fuel, which has the potential to reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 80%, compared with conventional aviation fuel.1 SAF is also a drop-in fuel, which can be blended in a ratio of up to 50% with conventional jet fuel for use in aircraft operating today.2
First used by the industry in 2008, SAF has powered over 250,000 flights around the world.3 However, volumes currently remain low, with SAF accounting for less than 0.1% of the aviation fuel market.4
This is due to a range of factors, including high production costs and the fact that SAF technology is still in its infancy. As a result, investment in new SAF production capacity remains limited. Stronger demand signals are needed if production volume is to be increased.
Shell Aviation is working with a range of partners to supply increasing amounts of SAF from current production technologies today. We are also exploring a number of new technology pathways for SAF production.
Some of our collaborations include:
Amazon Air
Working with World Energy, Shell Aviation secured an agreement to supply up to six million gallons of SAF to Amazon Air in July 2020.
World Energy
Shell Aviation and World Energy are working together to develop a scalable supply of SAF in the United States. This includes an agreement to supply SAF to Lufthansa at San Francisco Airport.
Neste
In October 2020 Shell Aviation signed a collaboration agreement with SAF producer Neste that aims to significantly increase availability and supply for the aviation industry.
SkyNRG
In 2018 Shell Aviation signed a long-term strategic collaboration with SkyNRG to promote and develop the use of SAF in aviation supply chains.
Red Rock
In October 2020 Shell Aviation signed a deal to distribute SAF to airline customers from Red Rock’s new plant, currently under construction in Lakeview, Oregon.
Rolls-Royce
Shell Aviation is working alongside World Energy and SkyNRG to supply SAF to Rolls-Royce for the first engine ground tests to use 100% SAF.
Further evidence of Shell’s collaborative spirit and commitment to increase SAF supply can be seen in its membership of the UK government's Jet Zero Council and the World Economic Forum’s Clean Skies for Tomorrow Coalition.
Discover how Rolls-Royce and Shell are working together towards zero-emission flights
Title: Rolls-Royce And Shell: Piloting A Route To Net-Zero Emissions
Duration: 2:24 minutes
Description:
A short Shell video about how Rolls Royce and Shell are working towards zero-emission flights.
Rolls-Royce And Shell: Piloting A Route To Net-Zero Emissions Transcript
[Background music plays]
Dramatic/relaxing music
[Text displays]
Rolls Royce And Shell: Piloting A Route To Net-Zero Emissions. Shell Strategy Day 2021
[Video footage]
An airplane is flying over a city at dusk, the sky is pink and the city lights can be seen below. Shell logo in bottom left of screen, Change to time-lapse of an airport airfield operating at night time. The directional lights are blue and green.
Cuts to a head and shoulders view of a Male sitting in front of a wooden mantle piece. He is talking to the camera.
[Text displays]
Paul Stein. Chief Technology Officer, Rolls-Royce
[Voiceover]
Aviation is vital to our connected world, but as an industry we must reduce its net carbon emissions.
[Video Footage]
A hand draws a question mark on a blackboard.
[Voiceover]
The question is, how are we going to do it?
[Video Footage]
Change to three people working at a computer and drinking coffee in a well-lit room.
Change to people in lab coats looking at an aircraft model in a laboratory with a blue hue light.
[Voiceover]
There’s no single solution.
[Video Footage]
Change to a close up of somebody putting two jigsaw pieces together in the sunlight.
Change to an electric small aircraft sitting on a tarmac airfield. The pilot is sitting in the cockpit and a male is walking away from the aircraft. Cut to the aircraft taking off and flying low over a green field.
Change to a white electric aircraft in a large bright air hangar.
Change to a small single-person aircraft with 8 propellers on a launchpad. The Sky Drive logo is behind the aircraft on a wall.
Change to close up of an aircraft engine, the blue body of the plane can be seen. Cut to view which shows nose of aircraft and propellers. Cut to the side of the aircraft, moving along to see in each window. The pilot is in the cockpit. Cut to the aircraft taking off and flying low over a green field. There are red-brick houses in the distance.
[Voiceover]
Electric aircraft and hybrid technology undoubtedly have a part to play, as does Hydrogen.
[Video Footage]
A jumbo jet flies towards and over the camera, over some palm trees. The sun is setting and the sky is golden and orange.
[Voiceover]
But these technologies aren’t suited to long-haul flights.
[Video Footage]
Cuts to a head and shoulders view of a Male sitting in front of a wooden mantle piece. He is talking to the camera.
[Voiceover]
We believe SAF - Sustainable Aviation Fuel is crucial to powering today’s aviation fleets while reducing carbon emissions
[Video Footage]
Time-lapse of an airfield during the day. There is a row of planes parked near the front of the image.
[Voiceover]
compared with conventional jet fuel.
[Video Footage]
Time-lapse of airplanes flying low and landing at night time. The sky is dark blue and the city is lit up. The planes are identified as glowing lights descending.
[Voiceover]
But we don’t have anywhere near enough of it.
[Video Footage]
Close up of a digital display screen showing the fuel levels of an aircraft. Red “Low Fuel” alert is flashing on screen.
Change to time-lapse of a plane being parked and boarded.
[Voiceover]
SAF currently represents less than 1% of the total aviation fuel supply.
[Video Footage]
Change to a female head and shoulders view. Female is sat in front of a fireplace talking to the camera.
[Text displays]
Anna Mascolo. President of Global Aviation, Shell.
[Voiceover]
For me, it is all about showing the way. Showing the industry what can be done and what is possible.
[Video Footage]
A large fuelling vehicle is being filled by a person wearing a hi-vis green jacket. There is a shell logo on the vehicle’s side, and reverse of person’s jacket. Cut to close up of fuelling pipe leading to the fuelling wagon in the distance
Change to fuel control panel on a wall. There are many dials, lights and switches.
Change to an airfield and partial view of an airplane wing. There is a fuelling vehicle with a Shell logo on the side.
Change to people walking through a busy airport. Sunlight is shining through the gaps between people.
[Voiceover]
Shell is helping to grow demand for SAF by working with our industry partners and stake holders.
[Video Footage]
Nose of a white airplane in an airfield at night. There is a blue logo saying “Prime Air” on the plane.
Change to a yellow DHL plane and many DHL staff on the ground.
[Voiceover]
Supporting companies like Amazon Air and DHL Express that want to become part of the solution.
[Video Footage]
Aerial view of circular industrial buildings next to a field of vegetation.
Change to a fuel plant. There are silver pipes, stairs and containers.
Change to stacks of green drums labelled with “Bio-fuel”
Change to Male using a spanner on a silver mechanism.
[Text displays]
Production, supply, technology, policy development
[Voiceover]
We’re enabling SAF supplies through investments in production, supply, technology and policy development
[Video Footage]
Wide angle view of an air-hangar. It is well-lit and has two people walking towards an aircraft.
[Voiceover]
and we are collaborating with all parties in the Aviation ecosystem.
[Background music changes]
Peaceful music
[Video Footage]
Fade to white screen.
In black and white, a historic aircraft is in a field filled with spectators. Cut to a person running behind the aircraft as it moves across the field.
Change to a historic plane turning whilst on the ground.
Change to a person fuelling a historic plane, whilst wearing Shell-branded overalls.
Change to a modern style plane flying across the sky.
[Voiceover]
Rolls-Royce and Shell have collaborated for over 100 years
[Video Footage]
In black and white, a modern white plane flying above fields and hedgerows.
In colour, change to a plane on an airfield, with people walking towards the camera having departed the plane. They are carrying luggage. There are people descending the plane’s external stairs.
Change to a concord taking off and flying above a green field. Cut to a concord flying through the sky.
[Voiceover]
pioneering technology, fuels and infrastructure that have shaped commercial aviation.
[Video Footage]
A person wearing blue, Rolls-Royce overalls is looking at a computer screen with engine designs on it.
Change to time-lapse of Rolls-Royce staff working on jet engine and propellers in a large, bright workshop.
Change to a montage of jet engines and staff working at Rolls-Royce.
[Voiceover]
And that pioneering spirit continues, we’re testing our current engines to show they run on 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel supplied by Shell.
[Video Footage]
People stood around a large screen, in a modern office lab. They are discussing and working with the screen.
Change to a child in a pink jacket running in slow-motion towards a male outside an airport. They hug and the child receives a teddy bear.
[Voiceover]
Collaboration like that between Shell and Rolls-Royce is vital to enable aviation’s pathway to net-zero emissions.
[Video Footage]
Change to a female head and shoulders view. Female is sat in front of a fireplace talking to the camera.
[Voiceover]
If all parties work together, we can decarbonise aviation and continue to enjoy the immense benefits of flight.
[Video Footage]
A person is looking out of a window at an airfield. Their hand is placed against the glass.

Navigating the pathway to sustainable aviation
The aviation industry is on its way to returning to the skies, and part of that return must include reducing its contribution to climate change. The current options are limited and complex, but with urgent action and collaboration from multiple stakeholders and consumer demand for sustainable aviation still strong, significant reductions in aviation emissions are possible.
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1 https://www.iata.org/en/programs/environment/sustainable-aviation-fuels/
2 https://www.iata.org/en/programs/environment/sustainable-aviation-fuels/
3 https://www.iata.org/en/programs/environment/sustainable-aviation-fuels/
4 https://www.iata.org/en/programs/environment/sustainable-aviation-fuels/