Aemetis to supply Japan Airlines with 90 million gallons of blended SAF starting in 2025

Aemetis Inc. announced Feb. 9 that an offtake agreement has been signed with Japan Airlines for 90 million gallons of blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to be delivered over a seven-year term.

The blended fuel to be supplied under this agreement is 40 percent SAF.

This supply agreement with Aemetis builds on Japan Airlines’ expanding effort for a future of net-zero emission by 2050, plans to replace 1 percent of its conventional jet fuel consumption with SAF by 2025, and 10 percent by 2030. The agreement also underlines the oneworld Alliance’s commitment to collectively source SAF, of which Japan Airlines is a member. Japan Airlines is one of Japan’s largest international airlines as of 2021. It operates more than 200 aircraft delivering more than 40 million passengers and approximately 500,000 tons of cargo globally.

The SAF is expected to be produced by the Aemetis renewable jet/diesel plant under development on a 125-acre former U.S. Army Ammunition production plant site in Riverbank, California. The blended sustainable aviation fuel is scheduled to begin deliveries to Japan Airlines in 2025.

“The use of sustainable aviation fuel by Japan Airlines is another step by the oneworld Alliance toward lowering the environmental impact of aviation,” stated Eric McAfee, chairman and CEO of Aemetis. “Our supply of SAF to the San Francisco International Airport is supported by the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard, creating new investment and jobs in disadvantaged minority communities in the state.”

Powered by 100 percent renewable electricity, the Aemetis Carbon Zero production plant design utilizes cellulosic hydrogen made from carbon negative waste wood from orchards and forests. The below zero carbon intensity cellulosic hydrogen will be used to hydrotreat vegetable and other renewable oils to produce renewable aviation and diesel fuel.

To further reduce carbon intensity, the Aemetis Carbon Zero design includes capturing CO2 from the production plant and injecting the compressed CO2 into a sequestration well at the Riverbank site. The project is designed to permanently store an estimated 200,000 metric tons of CO2 each year from the plant.