In a significant stride towards sustainable travel, Spanish energy company Moeve has become the first external supplier of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to join Shell’s innovative blockchain-based platform. This collaboration represents a crucial milestone in the ongoing push to make aviation more eco-friendly and reduce its carbon footprint.
At the heart of this partnership is Shell’s Avelia platform, a groundbreaking initiative designed to revolutionize the aviation fuel supply chain. Launched in 2022, Avelia operates as a “book and claim” system, connecting airlines, fuel suppliers, and corporate buyers in a seamless network. Through blockchain technology, the platform allows for full transparency, traceability, and verification of sustainable aviation fuel usage, ensuring that every transaction is both legitimate and environmentally responsible.
Shell’s vision for the Avelia platform, developed in collaboration with partners like Amex Global Business Travel and Accenture, is to create a sustainable and efficient market for SAF. By mid-2025, Avelia had already facilitated the use of over 41 million gallons of SAF across 17 airports globally. This achievement is a testament to the growing commitment of the aviation sector towards achieving sustainable travel goals and cutting down on carbon emissions from air travel.
Moeve, a Spanish energy company, has made a substantial impact in the SAF industry through its innovative approach to fuel production. At its La Rábida Energy Park, Moeve produces sustainable aviation fuel by converting used cooking oil into biofuel. This method not only reduces waste but also helps to cut down on the carbon footprint associated with traditional jet fuel production. Moeve’s commitment to sustainability is further demonstrated by its ambitious plans to scale its production capacity to 800,000 metric tons per year by 2030, significantly contributing to global SAF availability.
This increase in production capacity is pivotal for the future of sustainable travel, as it will enable airlines to adopt cleaner fuel alternatives on a larger scale. Moeve’s involvement in Shell’s blockchain platform further solidifies its role as a key player in the green aviation movement, helping bridge the gap between demand and supply for sustainable aviation fuel.
While the SAF market has shown promise, it continues to face significant challenges in scaling. Despite growing pressures to decarbonize the aviation sector, SAF remains a niche product due to several barriers. One of the primary obstacles is the higher production costs associated with SAF compared to traditional jet fuel. This price difference discourages airlines from fully committing to the use of sustainable fuel, especially when economic considerations are at the forefront.
Additionally, the availability of feedstocks such as used cooking oil — a key resource for producing SAF — poses another challenge. As the demand for SAF grows, securing a consistent and sufficient supply of feedstock will become increasingly difficult. Furthermore, the technology and infrastructure required to produce and distribute SAF at a global scale are still developing, leaving room for improvement in the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of SAF production.
Shell’s Avelia platform plays a crucial role in overcoming these barriers by offering a transparent and efficient marketplace for sustainable aviation fuel. Through its blockchain technology, Avelia ensures that each transaction is traceable and verifiable, providing assurance to airlines, fuel suppliers, and corporate buyers that their SAF investments are truly contributing to carbon reduction.
This transparency is essential in building trust and fostering greater adoption of SAF across the aviation industry. As more stakeholders participate in the Avelia platform, it will drive a broader shift toward sustainable fuel alternatives, helping to establish SAF as a mainstream aviation fuel option. The platform not only offers traceability but also helps reduce inefficiencies in the SAF supply chain, making it easier for companies to access and utilize sustainable fuel solutions.
The future of sustainable aviation fuel is promising, but challenges remain. As more airlines and fuel suppliers embrace the use of SAF, the industry will need to tackle issues such as cost and supply chain logistics. However, initiatives like the Shell-Avelia partnership provide a roadmap for overcoming these obstacles, showing how collaboration between fuel producers, airlines, and technology providers can accelerate the adoption of SAF.
As governments and regulatory bodies continue to pressure the aviation industry to reduce its carbon emissions, the demand for sustainable travel will only grow. While SAF is still in its early stages, the concerted efforts of companies like Moeve, Shell, and others will help pave the way for a more sustainable future in air travel. The integration of blockchain technology into the SAF supply chain will be an important factor in this transition, ensuring that the industry can scale sustainable fuel usage and contribute to global carbon reduction goals.
The partnership between Moeve and Shell’s Avelia platform represents a key development in the ongoing journey toward a more sustainable aviation industry. While the road to scaling SAF production is complex, innovations in fuel production and blockchain technology provide hope for a greener future in aviation. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be essential for all stakeholders — airlines, fuel suppliers, and corporate buyers — to work together in building a robust, transparent, and efficient SAF market. This collective effort is crucial for making sustainable travel a reality for future generations.
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