Swedavia signs agreement with supplier for renewable aviation fuel

Swedavia is now taking further steps in its vision for fossil-free domestic air travel in Sweden. Fly Green Fund has been delegated the task of delivering renewable aviation fuel to Swedavia’s airports, the equivalent of the company’s employee business travel. The venture is worth SEK 10 M a year, leading to reductions in fossil carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to 1,400 tonnes every year.

Swedavia is working towards its vision of fossil-free domestic air travel in Sweden by 2030. As part of this work, in December Swedavia decided to launch a tender process for renewable aviation fuel equivalent to the amount used by employee business travel.

“The air travel industry, like many other industries, is faced with obvious climate challenges. With this venture we want to show that substantial reductions in fossil carbon dioxide emissions are possible. However, to establish a large scale production of renewable aviation fuel in Sweden, many more actors need to be engaged,” says Karl Wistrand, president and chief executive of Swedavia.

Swedavia’s employees make almost 15,000 flights for business purposes each year. This venture, which entails a cost of SEK 10 M annually, means a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to 1,400 tonnes a year. Because of it, and if more market participants follow suit, Swedavia hopes that demand for renewable aviation fuel will increase. That means production will also increase and the price differential between renewable and fossil jet fuel will thus be reduced. Part of the allocated funds will also be invested in research and development towards a large scale production of renewable aviation fuel.

Earlier this year, Swedavia also launched an incentive programme for airlines that invest in renewable aviation fuel, with SEK 5 M set aside for 2016. As a result of the programme, airlines can get economic assistance to fund the added cost currently entailed by the purchase of renewable aviation fuel.

“We are proud and happy that Swedavia have put their trust in us. We are now furthering the development towards a more sustainable aviation and a more sustainable future for all of us. Furthermore, Swedavia is showing the public sector in Sweden that it’s possible to work towards sustainable aviation by means of buying renewable aviation fuel through a public tendering process,” says Maria Fiskerud, CEO of Fly Green Fund.

Fly Green Fund is an economic association and collaborative organisation whose vision is that everyone who wants to fly using renewable aviation fuel in the Nordic countries should have the opportunity to do so. Among those taking part in the partnership are Swedavia, KLM, Resia and Löfbergs Lila.

For further information, please contact Swedavia’s press office at +46 (0)10-109 01 00.