Norwegian is purchasing fossil-free aviation fuel equivalent to all consumption of 100 flights between Aalborg and Copenhagen. The initiative aims to illustrate that it is already possible today to significantly reduce emissions for Danish domestic aviation.
The Danish government has a stated goal that Denmark will have a «green domestic route» by 2025. Norwegian is now collaborating with Aalborg Airport, among others, to actively demonstrate that it is possible to introduce fossil-free aviation fuel, also known as SAF, on a large scale today.
Aircraft are currently approved for a blend of 50 percent fossil-free aviation fuel. Therefore, Norwegian has chosen to replace the entire amount of fuel needed for the hundred flights with fossil-free fuel. The fuel is delivered to Aalborg Airport. In this way, Norwegian is introducing fossil-free aviation fuel on Denmark's busiest domestic route between Aalborg and Copenhagen. The initiative is another step towards the airline's ambitions to reduce its emissions by 45 percent by 2030. Earlier this year, Norwegian announced that the company had entered into partnership with Norsk e-Fuel which will build the world's first large-scale electrofuel factory.
Norwegian's CEO Geir Karlsen was on site at Aalborg Airport today in connection with the launch:
–There has been a lot of focus for some time on how domestic aviation in Denmark can transition to more sustainable aviation fuels, both in the short and long term. With this initiative, we are showing in concrete terms that it is actually possible to fly a Danish domestic route with 100 percent fossil-free aviation fuel with the infrastructure that already exists at the airports today. However, for this to become a reality in 2025, the availability of fossil-free aviation fuel must increase significantly, as there are very limited quantities available today, says Geir Karlsen.
The fuel company DCC & Shell Aviation Denmark supplies the fossil-free aviation fuel to Aalborg Airport. The fuel consumption on the 100 flights is approximately 140 tons. By using the corresponding amount of fossil-free aviation fuel during these weeks, Norwegian's CO2 emissions on the route between Aalborg and Copenhagen are reduced by a total of up to 80 percent. In one year, Norwegian has around 2,200 flights between Aalborg and Copenhagen with a total fuel consumption of approximately 3,000 tons of aviation fuel. If this total amount of fuel were to be replaced with fossil-free aviation fuel, CO2 emissions would be reduced by almost 10,000 tons, from a life cycle perspective.
The introduction of fossil-free fuel on domestic flights between Aalborg and Copenhagen also means that Aalborg Airport will receive direct delivery of the more renewable aviation fuel SAF for the first time.
– We at Aalborg Airport are pleased that Norwegian has chosen us as a partner for this initiative. Sustainable aviation fuels are the future of the entire aviation industry. As an airport, we are assisting with the infrastructure in this project and expect that it can contribute to Denmark's first "green domestic route" in 2025 from Aalborg Airport, says Niels Hemmingsen, CEO of Aalborg Airport.
On the way withfor a more sustainable flight
For DCC & Shell Aviation Denmark, the collaboration with Norwegian reflects the increasing ambitions for Danish aviation to use alternative aviation fuels. The company has been working with the aviation industry for several years to secure access to SAF in larger quantities. The agreement with Norwegian represents another step towards introducing more sustainable aviation fuels in Denmark.
–Since we started the first deliveries of SAF to Danish airports in 2021, we have noted both increased interest and increased demand. That is why we have now established the first SAF warehouse here at home. Together with Norwegian, we can deliver SAF from here to Aalborg Airport in quantities as large as what is actually involved here, says Sune Petersen, Head of Sustainability at DCC & Shell Aviation Denmark.
–We have an ongoing debate about how alternative aviation fuels can become available for aviation on a large scale. It is about production capacity. But it is also about whether investments in special infrastructure for the aircraft and airports will be required, or whether from a mass balance perspective we can use the existing fuel infrastructure. Norwegian's initiative is a good example of how the mass balance principle can achieve the same effect as if SAF were to be refueled directly on the aircraft, concludes Sune Petersen.
Fossil-free aviation fuels – how it works
Fossil-free aviation fuels are also called SAF, Sustainable Aviation Fuel and are a more sustainable alternative to fossil-based jet fuel. SAF is currently produced from bio-waste and residual products, such as used cooking oil and animal fat. In the future, it is expected that electrofuel, so-called Power-to-X (PtX), will be produced in significantly larger quantities and in an even more sustainable way by converting electricity from solar and wind power into liquid energy.
In connection with Norwegian's initiative, DCC & Shell Aviation Denmark is delivering approximately 140 tonnes of SAF that is blended with conventional aviation fuel in accordance with the current rules for blending SAF. The fossil-free aviation fuel is included in the central fuel tank at Aalborg Airport and from there all aircraft operating at the airport and using the fuel infrastructure are refueled. The fossil-free fuel is certified by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) in accordance with the sustainability criteria of the EU's Renewable Energy Directive.
By purchasing SAF equivalent to the total fuel consumption of 100 flights between Aalborg and Copenhagen, fossil fuel consumption and thus CO2 emissions are reduced. This initiative is the most effective way to fulfill the Danish government's wishes.
According to the press release.
