Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance launches SAFc Connect

The Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance announced May 28 the go-live of SAFc Connect, a secure online platform to help connect corporate buyers with sustainable aviation fuel certificate (SAFc) providers and accelerate near-term progress in decarbonizing aviation.

SAFc Connect gives participants a more flexible pathway to invest in high-integrity, commercially available SAF and is designed to support a faster offer-to-sale cycle that lets SAFc providers tap into near-term corporate demand.

SABA surveys indicate that SABA-member companies accessing SAFc Connect have an immediate demand for approximately $30 million worth of SAF certificates.

The annual-demand volume is expected to grow significantly year-on-year as SABA membership expands and companies ramp up investment to meet 2030 climate targets.

Approximately six SAFc providers—including Alaska Air, Future Energy Global, International Airlines Group, JetBlue, Targray and Valero—have committed to participating in SAFc Connect with up to double that number expected to come on board in the coming months.

“To meet the decarbonization goals for the aviation sector, we need to encourage both near- and long-term investment into SAF,” said Kim Carnahan, CEO of the Center for Green Market Activation and head of SABA secretariat. “With SAFc Connect, participants have a continuous SAF-procurement opportunity that progresses climate goals now, while strengthening the foundations of the SAF market for future growth.”

Since launching in 2021, SABA has worked with corporate buyers to aggregate demand for over $400 million in SAF certificates, first through a proof-of-concept pilot procurement and followed by 2023-’24’s groundbreaking multiyear procurement that supported tens of millions of gallons of SAF.

Earlier this month, SABA launched a third request for proposal (RFP) for next-generation fuels designed to facilitate five- to 10-year forward-purchasing commitments on behalf of its members at sufficient volumes to support final-investment decision (FID) for a new production facility.

SABA said SAFc Connect represents a next evolution of its commitment to aggregate demand and connect SAF suppliers with buyers seeking to invest in decarbonized aviation.

With the May 28 go-live, both buyers and providers stand to benefit, according to SABA.

Upon logging in, SAFc buyers can view posted offers all in one place, with each offer vetted by SABA and accompanied by key details such as carbon-intensity performance, sustainability certification standard, pricing, feedstock, fuel type and term length.

User-level permissions ensure that only authorized SAFc buyers can view sustainability and commercial information associated with the offers, which are subject to strict confidentiality requirements.

After reviewing available offers, buyers can then contact providers to complete offtake discussions.

Participating SAFc providers gain access to a committed community of buyers who want to make near-term purchases to meet their ambitious climate targets.

The platform will be updated on a recurring basis with additional platform participation and offer volumes.

The enhanced flexibility and responsiveness built into the system is expected to encourage new SAF production and capture long-term pricing benefits associated with economies of scale.

SAFc Connect will leverage SABA’s existing book-and-claim model that separates SAF’s environmental benefits from the physical fuel and captures them as a SAFc.

Purchasing SAF certificates allows corporate travelers to invest in SAF and capture the environmental benefits, even if the fuel does not flow directly into the planes they fly on.

The travelers’ investment allows them to make a greenhouse-gas emissions-reduction claim on their climate disclosures, while the physical SAF flows to an aircraft operator.

SAFc Connect will only host offers for SAF that meets SABA’s sustainability criteria.

Buyer participation in SAFc Connect is offered exclusively to SABA members.