Iberia Mantenimiento starts using SAF eco-fuel

• Cepsa will sell sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced at the Huelva Energy Park from organic waste and used cooking oils.
• The milestone, which will save 115 tonnes of CO2 per year, reinforces both companies’ goals to decarbonise the aviation sector.
• This is the first time this type of environmentally friendly fuel has been used on a test rig in Spain on a permanent basis for commercial airlines.
• This initiative is part of Iberia Mantenimiento’s sustainability strategy, which is divided into five main areas: water, waste, energy, CO2 and volatile organic compounds.

Starting today, Iberia Mantenimiento will use 5% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in its engine test rig at its La Muñoz facility, located near Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, taking another step towards decarbonising the sector. Using this type of fuel will mean saving 115 tonnes of CO.2 per year. Iberia Mantenimiento thus becomes the first Spanish aviation maintenance service provider to use this type of fuel on a permanent basis on its commercial airline engine test bench.

Cepsa will sell this second-generation biofuel, produced from organic waste and used cooking oils, at its La Rábida energy park in Huelva. Specifically, the energy company will supply Iberia Mantenimiento with more than 36 tons of SAF this year.

“We are very proud to have taken another step towards decarbonising the industry by using SAF on our test rig and avoiding 115 tonnes of CO emissions.2“Collaboration, technology and innovation are essential elements to achieve the industry’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050,” explains Teresa Parejo, Iberia’s Director of Sustainability.

Marta Sencillo, Head of Sustainable Aviation at Cepsa, assured: “We continue to take steps together with Iberia to ensure the sustainability of their operations and jointly promote sustainable aviation. At Cepsa, we are working to continue to be a benchmark in the production and distribution of SAF, a sustainable fuel today that will be crucial in the coming years to achieve the decarbonization goals of the aviation sector.”

The use of SAF on Iberia Mantenimiento’s engine test bed is part of the International Airlines Group (IAG) sustainability strategy, with the ultimate goal of achieving zero emissions by 2050. Among other actions, Iberia, Iberia Express and Cepsa maintain a cooperation agreement in the development and research of sustainable fuels and other energy alternatives, such as fleet electrification, to promote sustainable mobility of aircraft and the fleet of vehicles that provide them with services at airports.

Supporting Iberia’s Sustainable Development Strategy

The use of SAF on the Iberia Mantenimiento engine workshop test bench is part of the company’s sustainability strategy, which is divided into five main areas:

• Water: Iberia Mantenimiento, in its water management plan, has set itself targets to reduce water consumption by 10% and 30% in 2027 and 2030, respectively, compared to the data recorded in 2022.
• CO2: use 5% SAF in 2024 and 2025, followed by a steady and continuous increase in the use of this type of fuel in the coming years, which contributes to achieving reductions in CO emissions.2 by 20% in 2030 compared to 2022.
• Volatile organic compounds and solvents: reduce its use by 10% in 2025 compared to what was used in 2022.
• Energy: reduce energy consumption by 20% by 2025 compared to 2022 levels, while producing 10% of that energy consumed through solar panels and using 100% renewable energy.
• Wasting money: The Spanish company aims to recycle more than 80% of the waste generated by 2025 and reduce its amount by 20% compared to what was produced in 2022.

Ensure commercialization of SAF

Cepsa produces SAF and other second-generation biofuels in its energy parks and sells sustainable aviation fuel on a regular basis at several major airports in Spain.

To guarantee the commercialisation of SAF in the aviation sector, the company, together with Bio-Oils, has started the construction of the largest second-generation biofuels plant in Southern Europe, which will require an investment of €1.2 billion. This plant, which will be in operation in 2026 in Palos de la Frontera (Huelva), will have a flexible production capacity of 500,000 tonnes of SAF and renewable diesel.

As part of your strategy Positive movementCepsa, with the aim of promoting the decarbonisation of aviation, aims to lead the production of SAF in Spain and Portugal with an annual production capacity of 800,000 tonnes in 2030, enough clean fuel to fly around the planet more than 2,000 times.

What is SAF?

Sustainable aviation fuel* is an alternative fuel to fossil fuels that is positioned as a key tool for decarbonising the aviation sector. SAF can be organic (derived from vegetable oils, animal fats, biomass or other waste such as agricultural residues) or synthetic (derived from CO).2 captured and renewable hydrogen).

SAF is an immediate response to the challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions on short, medium and long-haul flights. Reducing CO emissions by up to 90%2 As for the consumption of conventional kerosene (taking into account its entire life cycle, from production to consumption) and, moreover, in the case of second-generation biofuels, such as the one that Cepsa sells to Iberia Mantenimiento, it also contributes to the circular economy, since it is produced from waste that would otherwise end up in landfills.

One of the big advantages of SAF is that it can be used – and, in fact, is already being used – as there is no need to modify any aircraft machinery or airport infrastructure.

Test stand, more than 170 engine tests in 2023.

Iberia Mantenimiento’s test facility has a 90,000-pound capacity test cell and is licensed to certify four engine types serviced by the Spanish company: CFM56-5B/-7B, RB211, V2500 and Pratt & Whitney GTF™. In total, Iberia Mantenimiento has performed more than 170 engine starts in 2023.

An aircraft engine test rig is a specialized facility designed to evaluate and validate the performance, efficiency, and reliability of engines prior to installation in aircraft following major overhauls and, if necessary, repairs. These test rigs allow engine manufacturers and airlines to conduct extensive testing in a controlled environment, ensuring that engines meet the safety and performance standards required for aviation.