SAF Fuels

Taking off into the future

The aviation sector continues to expand, with more than 10 million flights recorded in Europe in 2023, according to EUROCONTROL, the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation. This growth presents an opportunity to incorporate energy solutions that minimize the environmental impact associated with this transport.

Sustainable aviation fuels offer an effective alternative for reducing CO₂emissions by up to 80% compared to mineral kerosene. Given the complexity of fully electrifying aviation, the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) is emerging as the primary option for immediately reducing CO₂ emissions and achieving the decarbonization of the sector.

What are SAF fuels?

SAF fuels are renewable fuels that are considered net zero emissions in use, as the CO₂ emitted during combustion is equivalent to that previously absorbed from the atmosphere during the lifetime of the raw material used to produce them. They are obtained from biomass, organic waste, and, in some cases, through advanced electrochemical processes.

How is SAF fuel obtained?

SAF fuel can be produced from various raw materials, such as used cooking oils, agricultural waste, or forest biomass, using processes that transform these materials into a fuel with properties similar to conventional kerosene. Some examples include hydrogenation of oils or combining renewable hydrogen with captured CO₂.

Currently, there are several certified production methods that guarantee safe use in commercial aviation. Furthermore, new avenues are being developed to incorporate more types of waste and technologies, with the goal of expanding production capacity and advancing the decarbonization of the sector.

Repsol and SAF fuels

We work to reduce CO₂ emissions and develop low carbon footprint energy solutions, promoting renewable energy sources and projects that are transforming the aviation sector through the use of renewable fuels.

Our milestones in the development and supply of sustainable aviation fuels

2024: IAG and Repsol agree on the largest acquisition of SAF in Spain

IAG purchases 28,000 tonnes from Repsol, the largest purchase of this product to date. The sustainable jet fuel we supply will be used on planes flying from Spain, for airlines such as Iberia, Vueling, and British Airways.

2024: Volotea and Repsol sign agreement to supply SAF in Spain until 2029

The airline and Repsol have signed a partnership, in which we will supply more than 6 million liters of SAF between 2025 and 2029.

2023: Supply of SAF to the cargo airline Atlas Air

Comenzamos a suministrar combustibles SAF a Atlas Air para sus vuelos de carga realizados para Inditex desde el aeropuerto de Zaragoza. Atlas Air se convirtió en la primera aerolínea de carga en España en utilizar SAF de manera regular. We began supplying SAF fuels to Atlas Air for its cargo flights for Inditex from Zaragoza Airport. Atlas Air became the first cargo airline in Spain to regularly use SAF.

2022: Biojet in the October 12 parade with the Patrulla Águila

The Patrulla Águila used SAF fuels produced by Repsol in its Hispanic Heritage Day air display, which featured military and acrobatic applications.

2021: First biofuel flights with Iberia and Vueling airlines

In collaboration with Iberia and Vueling, we operated the first commercial flights in Spain using sustainable aviation fuel produced from waste at our Petronor refinery. The flight between Madrid and Bilbao, operated by Iberia, reduced CO₂ emissions by 1.4 tonnes. The flight between Barcelona and Seville, operated by Vueling, achieved a reduction of 2.5 tonnes of CO₂ emissions.

2020: Pioneering biojet production in Puertollano

We produced the first batch of biojet in Spain at our Puertollano industrial complex. This 7,000-tonne batch prevented the emission of 440 tonnes of CO₂, equivalent to 40 flights between Madrid and Barcelona. Since then, we have expanded biojet manufacturing to other facilities in Spain.