Shell Aviation, in collaboration with Accenture and American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT), announced a significant evolution of Avelia, their blockchain-powered sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) platform, aimed at accelerating the adoption of SAF and enhancing transparency and scalability across the aviation sector. This move marks a transition of Avelia from a single-supplier platform—previously limited to Shell-supplied SAF—into a more inclusive, multisupplier industry solution designed to better serve corporate and airline customers globally.
Launched in 2022 as one of the pioneering blockchain-powered book-and-claim platforms for SAF, Avelia enables companies to access the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction benefits of SAF without being restricted by the physical availability of the fuel at specific airports. The platform’s secure blockchain ledger ensures the transparent and credible allocation of SAF’s environmental benefits, helping companies address scope 3 emissions—those linked to their wider value chains and often representing the largest portion of carbon footprints.
Over its initial phase, Avelia attracted over 57 corporations and airlines, including high-profile customers such as Bank of America and Google, facilitating the injection of over 33 million gallons of SAF at 17 airport points worldwide. This effort has contributed to the abatement of more than 300,000 tons of CO2 equivalent, roughly the emissions saved by over half a million passengers flying transatlantic routes like London to New York. Amex GBT has reinforced its commitment by extending its agreement with Shell Aviation to support the platform’s expansion, highlighting their role in fostering decarbonisation through innovative travel management solutions.
The evolution of Avelia introduces several new functionalities critical to industry-wide adoption. Independent data hosting by Accenture ensures an externally verified, secure environment enhancing trust and transparency for users. The shift to a multisupplier framework enables customers—including airlines and freight forwarders—to manage SAF procurements from multiple producers within one streamlined platform, simplifying workflows and broadening access to SAF’s environmental benefits. Additionally, Avelia plans to launch a Bring Your Own SAF (BYOS) model that allows airlines and companies to integrate SAF purchased outside Shell’s network or previously tracked offline, further improving flexibility and credibility in SAF tracking.
Governance of Avelia is also set to evolve with the formation of a multilateral governance structure, ensuring broader industry participation and transparency around operational procedures, laying the foundations for an interoperable and trusted marketplace for SAF credit allocation.
The timing of these developments is critical, as SAF remains the most viable near-term solution to substantially reduce lifecycle GHG emissions from aviation—potentially by up to 80 percent compared to conventional jet fuel when used neat. Yet, SAF supply remains limited; the International Air Transport Association predicts only 0.7 percent of total jet fuel production will be SAF in 2025, underscoring the need for scalable demand and distribution mechanisms such as those Avelia provides.
Raman Ojha, president of Shell Aviation, described this milestone as a powerful demonstration of how collaboration, technology, and innovation can scale SAF adoption and participation in decarbonising aviation. Echoing this, Evan Konwiser, chief product and strategy officer at Amex GBT, emphasised the challenge companies face in reducing scope 3 emissions and reaffirmed the commitment to grow Avelia as the world’s most established book-and-claim platform for SAF, supporting expanded customer access to environmental benefits.
Since its inception, Avelia has been integral to efforts to decarbonise air travel by enabling companies to purchase SAF attributes even when the fuel is not physically available at their departure points, a challenge addressed by the program’s book-and-claim approach. This innovation encourages broader market participation and investment in SAF production, vital for meeting global aviation climate goals.
Amex GBT’s involvement also aligns with its wider sustainability initiatives, including investments in sustainable flight funds and commitments to the World Economic Forum’s Clean Skies for Tomorrow campaign, aiming for 10 percent of global aviation fuel to be SAF by 2030.
By embracing a multisupplier, independent governance, and BYOS model, Avelia is positioning itself as a critical industry tool to catalyse SAF demand, prove the credibility of SAF lifecycle claims, and provide companies with a clear pathway towards credible aviation emissions reduction within their business travel portfolios. This evolution could play a pivotal role in the broader transition toward sustainable aviation, fostering the collaboration and transparency the sector urgently needs to meet its ambitious climate targets.
Source: Noah Wire Services
