Microsoft signs agreement with OMV to procure SAF certificates

OMV's head office in Vienna (Photo: OMV)

Microsoft has signed an agreement with the integrated Vienna, Austria-based energy company OMV to procure sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) certificates (SAFc).

Since March 2022, OMV has been producing SAF by coprocessing sustainable and regional raw materials, specifically used cooking oil, at its Schwechat refinery in Austria.

Compared to conventional jet fuel, SAF contributes to a reduction of CO2 emissions of more than 80 percent.

OMV has already signed several memoranda of understanding and offtake agreements with international and national air carriers.

Now, OMV is taking the next step.

The newly developed SAF business solutions are tailored to help organizations accomplish their scope 3 goals to reduce indirect emissions, such as from air travel or the air transportation of goods.

In cooperation with the independent global organization Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials, an innovative chain-of-custody model is piloted that allows OMV to reliably and verifiably transfer the environmental benefits of SAF in the form of SAF certificates.

This enables Microsoft to reach its decarbonization targets (scope 3) and further establish credible, sustainable corporate air travel and supply-chain logistics. 

“Sustainable aviation fuel is a strategic key pillar of OMV’s strategy 2030,” said Martijn van Koten, OMV’s executive vice president of fuels and feedstock. “Now we are taking the next step in decarbonizing air travel and the air transportation of goods. We are proud to expand our SAF growth path together with RSB and to support corporate customers like Microsoft to achieve their sustainability goals.”

The pilot will be guided by the RSB book-and-claim system—a set of principles and online tracking system that has been developed through a global multistakeholder process to ensure that the use of this chain-of-custody model has full traceability and credibility, as well as a demonstrable climate impact.

“RSB is proud to collaborate with OMV and Microsoft to unlock the full potential of book and claim to reach decarbonization targets and to demonstrate demand for sustainable fuels to help grow supply,” said Elena Schmidt, RSB’s executive director. “Trust is the centerpiece of book and claim, and delivering a trustworthy solution built on genuine global multistakeholder dialogue is fundamental for the RSB. We are thrilled to be working with OMV and Microsoft to demonstrate in a credible way that book and claim can help meet climate goals and ensure real in-sector transformation.”

In 2020, Microsoft announced that it will be a carbon-negative, water-positive, zero-waste company that protects ecosystems by 2030.

Microsoft has made progress towards these goals, including investing in carbon removal, adopting a circular approach for materials management, increasing water access and protecting more land than used.

“Microsoft is pleased to work with OMV to procure SAF certificates as an integral component of our work to reduce our business-travel and supply-chain emissions,” said Katie Ross, director of carbon-reduction strategy and market development at Microsoft. “This collaboration underscores our dedication to reducing carbon emissions in the aviation sector. Together with OMV and RSB, we are accelerating our vision for a more sustainable future, fostering SAF production and contributing to a low-carbon economy.”