KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will develop Europe’s first dedicated plant for the production of SAF in Delfzijl, Netherlands.
The production facility will specialise in producing SAF, bioLPG and naphtha, primarily using regional waste and residue streams as feedstock.
The construction of this facility, which is scheduled to open in 2022, is a step towards fulfilling KLM’s sustainability ambitions, the company says.
SHV Energy, global leader in LPG distribution, will also invest in the facility and will purchase the bioLPG produced.
From 2022, the plant will annually produce 100,000 tonnes of SAF, as well as 15,000 tonnes of bioLPG, as a by-product. It will mean a CO2 reduction of 270,000 tonnes a year for the aviation industry. This is an important step for the industry to accommodate the need for carbon emission reduction on the one hand, and the increasing demand for sustainable aviation fuel on the other.
Pieter Elbers, KLM president & CEO, said: “I am proud of our collaboration with SkyNRG and SHV Energy to launch a project that will see the development of the first European production facility for sustainable aviation fuel. The advent of aviation has had a major impact on the world, offering a new means of bringing people closer together.
"This privilege goes hand in hand with huge responsibility towards our planet. KLM takes this very seriously and has therefore invested in sustainability for many years. By joining hands with other parties, we can build a plant that will accelerate the development of sustainable aviation fuel. From 2022, the plant will produce 100,000 tonnes a year, of which KLM will purchase 75,000 tonnes. This will reduce our CO2 emissions by 200,000 tonnes a year, which is equal to the emissions released by 1,000 KLM flights between Amsterdam and Rio de Janeiro.''