Google has reaffirmed its commitment to decarbonising air travel by extending a long-term agreement with American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) and Shell Aviation. The collaboration utilises Avelia, a blockchain-powered registry, to source and track sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) environmental attributes, signalling a major boost for the alternative energy market.
As a “hard-to-abate” sector, aviation relies heavily on the scaling of SAF, which can reduce life cycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional jet fuel. By committing to long-term procurement, Google aims to provide the financial certainty required for producers to expand supply and enhance global energy security.
The partnership employs a “book and claim” model, allowing Google to account for the carbon reduction benefits of SAF even when the fuel is not physically available at a specific departure airport. This system ensures that the environmental benefits are transparently tracked via blockchain and injected into the broader aviation fuelling network, making SAF accessible to a wider range of corporate stakeholders.
Vrushali Gaud, Google’s Global Director of Climate Operations, noted that such agreements are a “critical unlock” for the industry, while Amex GBT President Andrew Crawley praised the tech giant for leading by example. Raman Ojha, President of Shell Aviation added that Google’s continued investment provides the essential market signals needed to move the SAF ecosystem from niche to mainstream.
