Repsol certified to trade SAF on RSB’s book and claim system
Repsol announced that it has received certification by the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) to sell its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) within the RSB Book & Claim System.
“Being certified to access the world’s most credible and robust book and claim system is a milestone for Repsol. It enables us to introduce more SAF into the supply chain, allowing more players in the aviation sector to take advantage of the benefits from SAF. Our new plant in Cartagena is a guarantee that we can supply the fuel and, thus, help boost the reduction of the carbon footprint of air transport,” said Carlos Suarez, director of international aviation, Repsol.
The certification allows Repsol to deliver SAF at specific airports and enter it into the RSB registry, allowing customers to claim the certified emission reductions associated with the registered SAF when purchasing their traditional jet fuel.
The book and claim mechanism addresses the supply-and-demand challenges that currently exist for SAF and allows the aviation sector to accelerate its decarbonisation process.
“We are thrilled to see the work and commitment of Repsol to promoting faster decarbonisation of the aviation sector through RSB’s book and claim system. Trust is the centerpiece of book and claim, and delivering a trustworthy solution built on a genuinely global multistakeholder approach is fundamental for the RSB,” said Elena Schmidt, executive director, RSB.
The carbon reductions associated with the SAF will be registered as a ‘book and claim unit’ and transferred to any willing buyer globally, while the physical fuel delivered at the nearest airport will not have any sustainability criteria attached.
The certification allows Repsol to supply SAF from its advanced biofuels plant in Cartagena, Spain, that is currently completing final commissioning, across the world.
The plant will have the capacity to produce 250,000 tons of SAF and renewable diesel per year from various types of organic waste.
Repsol has produced SAF at its refineries in Spain since 2020, supplying the fuel to players in the Spanish market including Iberia, Air Europa, Vueling, and Iberojet, as well as to Atlas Air for the cargo flights.
In May 2023, Repsol signed a long-term agreement with Ryanair to supply up to 155,000 tons of SAF for its operations in Spain and Portugal between 2025 and 2030.
At the end of 2023, the company also supplied SAF for the first time to rescue helicopters in the Spanish region of Castile and Leon.
