Book and Claim supports environmental travel and SAF production  

Book and Claim supports environmental travel and SAF production – SAF will play a leading role in the international aviation community’s goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. But SAF uptake remains sluggish because of limited supply and availability, and its high cost. Meanwhile, carbon-offsetting has been helping to lighten the industry’s carbon footprint. But there is a system that simultaneously reduces carbon emissions and encourages more SAF production, and it’s something the entire industry needs to get behind. The book and claim system.

In simple terms, book and claim works by allowing operators who want to use SAF to purchase it even if it isn’t available at the airport where they will be refueling. Instead, the SAF the operator buys will be used in another operation at a station where it is available. The operator then refuels with regular jet fuel. So, although the SAF is not used by the eco-conscious operator itself but for a different operation, the goal of lowering emissions is achieved and the environment benefits. The operator then receives a credit certificate for carbon reduction.

It’s hoped that in addition to reducing carbon emissions, book and claim will also inspire more SAF production globally. Currently representing around 1% of all jet fuel, SAF uptake is hampered by logistical and geographical constraints. But should book and claim take off, the certainty of global SAF demand will enable more investment in its development and production.

Late last year, the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) welcomed the global framework for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) agreed at the third International Civil Aviation Organization Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels (ICAO CAAF/3) in Dubai. This agreement recognized the importance of accounting methodologies to the acceleration of SAF production, including book and claim.

It’s encouraging to see the European Parliament recently approve the Book and Claim initiative, setting out a roadmap towards increased SAF uptake in the EU. This is in parallel with the EU’s RefuelEU aviation rules whereby fuel suppliers must blend SAF into their jet fuel in increasing amounts, from 2% of overall fuel supplied at EU airports by 2025 to 70% by 2050.

What we need now is global governmental support for book and claim. The aviation community is committed to going green, but we cannot achieve our environmental goals without cooperation from political and industrial leadership.

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