Program is aimed at reducing greenhouse gases

Avelia, a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) program, is expanding into a multi-supplier model to help users access the greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits of SAF from multiple suppliers. The program began with Shell Aviation as the sole SAF provider. That company will continue to participate.

Avelia, according to an announcement, is a blockchain-powered book and claim solution with the aim of scaling SAF, reducing the life cycle GHG emissions of aviation and enabling greater participation in the industry decarbonization efforts. It was launched in 2022 as a partnership among Shell, Accenture and American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT).

As of March 31, more than 57 corporations and airlines had joined Avelia, contributing, according to an announcement, to the injection of over 33 million gallons of SAF into the existing global fuel network at 17 airport injection points around the world, resulting in over 300,000 tons of CO2 abated, the equivalent of over 530,000 passengers flying from London to New York.

Avelia’s evolution toward an industrywide solution, said the announcement, introduces functionalities that will enhance transparency, flexibility and industry participation, including:

• Independent data hosting. With the platform data now hosted and handled by Accenture, Avelia will provide a blockchain-powered transparent, secure, reliable and externally verified platform for accessing and allocating the information for the applicable SAF offering.
• BYOS (Bring Your Own SAF) model. Avelia is looking to introduce a BYOS model, which enables airlines to manage more of their SAF portfolio in Avelia, including SAF originally purchased outside the Shell supply network as well as SAF that otherwise would have been tracked offline and not on a digital registry.
• Multilateral governance. Avelia is in the process of setting up a multilateral governance structure to enable multi-party involvement and more transparency information around the Avelia operating procedures.

 Evan Konwiser, chief product and strategy officer, Amex GBT, said that as a partner in Avelia, “we continue to grow and evolve the world’s first and now most established book and claim platform for SAF.” He added, “Together we can accelerate its scale and increase customer access to its environmental benefits.”

Raman Ojha, president, Shell Aviation, said Avelia’s evolution from a single-supplier platform to a multi-supplier industry solution “is a powerful demonstration of how collaboration, technology and innovation can accelerate the scaling of SAF.”