DHL Express, a German parcel delivery company, will have 25,000 tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) delivered to Brussels Airport over the next year.
This fuel can replace a third of the traditional kerosene used for flights departing from Brussels Airport. The environmentally-friendly fuel is made from sources like used cooking oil and animal fats, DHL announced initiative on Thursday.
SAF helps reduce CO2 emissions from aviation, which accounts for about 3% of global CO2 emissions. "Sustainable kerosene reduces CO2 emissions by up to 80% over its lifecycle," according to DHL. Both fuels release the same amount of CO2 during flight; the difference is in the production process.
The major drawback of SAF is its cost, which is on average three times higher than regular kerosene. DHL asserts that this is less problematic in the cargo sector compared to the more price-sensitive passenger aviation sector. "Corporate clients are more willing to pay for sustainable solutions," said DHL.
With the contract for 25,000 tonnes, or nearly 200,000 barrels of SAF, DHL claims to be "by far the largest consumer of sustainable aviation fuel at Brussels Airport." The company operates around fifty flights to and from the airport daily, mostly at night.
DHL Express aims to replace 30% of its kerosene consumption with SAF globally by 2030. Notably, aircraft engines do not need modification to use sustainable fuel.
Brussels Airport aims for SAF to constitute 5% of total kerosene use by airlines by 2026. This year, the airport operator, with support from the federal government, launched an SAF incentive for airlines, which DHL and Brussels Airlines, among others, have signed up for.
