IAG Group to purchase 28,000 tonnes of sustainable fuel (SAF) from Repsol

Group MAG – which includes companies such as Iberia or Vueling– I’ll buy from Repsol more 28,000 tons of fuel sustainable aviation (SAF) for supplies over the next six months, the statement said. The fuel will be used in IAG aircraft flying from Spanish airportsincluding Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, Iberia Express and Vueling. It is SAF’s “largest voluntary purchase” to date.

The holding company that manages Luis Gallego Thus he advances in his commitment. decarbonize your operations and “is voluntarily moving towards the 2% SAF utilisation target for 2025” set by ReFuel EU Aviation Regulation. Using this SAF allows reduction of emissions by more than 80% compared with traditional kerosene throughout the entire life cycle, from production to consumption. In addition, IAG ensures that all SAF purchases comply with strict sustainability certification systems.

Repsol has begun producing 100% renewable fuel at its facilities in Cartagena. The plant, the first large plant in Spain and Portugal, specializing exclusively in the production of 100% renewable fuel and in which Repsol invested 250 million euroshas a production capacity of 250,000 tons per year and can produce renewable diesel and SAF from waste.

“It is important that governments continue to support creation of the SAF industry this increases its availability and reduces its price. The development of the European SAF industry has the potential to create thousands of jobs and make an important contribution to GDP,” the IAG CEO defended in a note. Luis Gallego. At present, this type of fuel is still they are very expensive use them in general terms, as they significantly increase the cost of air tickets. For this reason, airlines require regulatory framework and incentives to accelerate its development in Spain.

According to a PwC report for IAG, by 2050 airlines will require five million tonnes of SAF per year, which could be produced in the country through construction from 30 to 40 plants are located throughout Spain. In particular, this consultancy believes that Spain can produce 7 million tons per year of bio-based SAFthat is, something that is produced from waste materials such as oils, biomass or agricultural and forestry waste.

“This agreement with IAG, one of the largest airline groups in the world, reinforces our commitment to using 100% renewable fuels as a key lever for the decarbonisation of transport in Spain,” added the company’s CEO. Repsol, Josu John Imaz. “The aviation sector needs solutions such as sustainable aviation fuel, and we at Repsol are ready to supply it through our 100% renewable fuel plant in Cartagena,” he added.

Repeated cooperation

The relationship between IAG and Repsol in the field of clean fuels has a long history. Iberia held in 2021 Spain’s first biofuel flight are produced from waste. It was on the way between Madrid and Bilbao and environmentally friendly fuel produced in Petronor oil refinery. Moreover, a year later Iberia launched its first long-haul flights on this biofuel from Madrid to Washington, San Francisco and Dallas.

In addition, both companies are part of All4Zeroan industrially oriented technology innovation center specializing in the development of decarbonization and circular economy technologies.

Also in 2021 Vueling made my own First flight on fuel derived from environmentally friendly sources on the route between Barcelona and Seville. In this case, with the SNF produced in Repsol Industrial Centre in Tarragona from biomass. In addition, last February, at the same time as the Malaga festival, Vueling operated a flight between Barcelona and the Andalusian city in which half of the fuel used was SAF, provided by Repsol.