Part of what makes Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) sustainable is ensuring sustainability in its supply chain. Transporting SAF to a specific airport or flight is not always possible and could lead to higher GHG emissions. The Book and Claim system provides a solution for these situations. We will be breaking down what a Book and Claim system is, and how it relates to SAF purchases.
The Book & Claim model is a common practice where a sustainability claim made by a company is separated from the physical flow of these goods. The most notable example is green electricity. Electricity cannot be tracked along the grid since it is all combined before entering a power outlet. To solve this problem, Book and Claim systems were developed to allow customers to claim a specific amount of renewable energy. Electricity providers can enter or “book” the electricity they have produced in their systems and customers can “claim” the green energy they have bought. Consumers will then receive a certificate stating the amount of renewable electricity they paid for.
But what does this mean when talking about SAF? This means that SAF is not physically transported and entered into the specific aircraft of the person covering the fuel premium (e.g. Board Now members). Instead, it goes into the fuel system at an airport close to the SAF production facility. The volume of SAF that is produced and entered into the hydrant system is tracked and verified, after which corresponding carbon emissions factors are calculated and allocated to the person/organization that covers the premium.
There are four strong reasons to choose the Book and Claim system for SAF:
1. More sustainable supply chains: SAF is currently produced in very limited volumes and only in a few places around the world. To optimize the sustainability of SAF, it is best to keep the supply chain as efficient as possible. By entering SAF into the fuel system of an airport close to the production facility, the supply chain’s GHG emissions are minimized.
2. Keeping down costs: SAF costs more than fossil kerosene and it is crucial for the development of the market that costs are minimized. If producers were to strictly separate SAF in the supply chain, a new infrastructure would be required. This is inefficient and costly, thereby significantly increasing the price of SAF.
3. Airline- and location-independent: the Book and Claim system allows (corporate) buyers to source SAF based on their total aviation footprint in one transaction, rather than sourcing through each airline individually. This means that SAF can be sourced for flights with airlines or out of airports that do not have SAF supply available.
4. Achieve any desired reduction: sourcing SAF on a Book and Claim basis allows corporates to purchase any volume of SAF, including 100% of fuel needs or a carbon neutral scenario, without technical limitations such as blending limits.
SkyNRG can supply SAF on a Book and Claim basis. SAF purchased through the Book and Claim system can be reported as a standalone disclosure under a company’s voluntary carbon emissions reporting. We are working alongside organizations such as the World Economic Forum (WEF) to make sure that a globally accepted reporting system for SAF is developed. You can read more about the development of this system in our blog here.