Engines

KLM has agreed to purchase 75,000 tonnes of biofuel a year from 2022 onwards from a new plant being developed in Amsterdam.

The Dutch carrier says that under a 10-year agreement it will take 75% of the fuel produced annually by SkyNRG at its planned Delfzijl site, which will be Europe’s first dedicated plant for the production of sustainable fuel.

The production facility will specialise in producing sutainable fuel, primarily from regional waste and residue streams as feedstock, and will seek to produce 100,000 tonnes of biofuel and 15,000 tonnes of bioLPG per year at the plant.

KLM, which is a part owner of SkyNRG, says it is the first airline in the world to invest in sustainable aviation fuel on this scale, adding that it is a "concrete step" towards fulfilling its sustainability ambitions.

Amsterdam Schiphol airport and liquefied petroleum gas SHV Energy will also invest in the new facility, the later will also purchase the bioLPG produced.

"From 2022, the plant will produce 100,000 tonnes a year, of which KLM will purchase 75,000 tonnes. This will reduce our CO2 emissions by 200,000 tonnes a year, which is equal to the emissions released by 1,000 KLM flights between Amsterdam and Rio de Janeiro," says KLM chief executive Pieter Elbers.