Expansion of SAF Purchasing Platform by Shell, Accenture, and Amex GBT to Include Multiple Fuel Providers
In a significant stride towards achieving aviation's climate commitments, the blockchain-powered Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) book-and-claim platform, Avelia, has announced its evolution to support multiple fuel suppliers and accelerate SAF adoption in the industry.
Originally a single-supplier platform, Avelia was launched in 2022 with 1 million gallons of SAF, developed by Shell, Accenture, Amex GBT, and the Energy Web Foundation (EWF). As of March 2025, more than 57 companies and airlines have joined the platform, contributing to the injection of over 33 million gallons of SAF at 17 airport injection points globally.
Key developments in Avelia’s evolution include:
1. Multi-supplier support: The platform now accepts sustainable aviation fuel from multiple suppliers, moving beyond the initial exclusive focus on Shell, to meet growing SAF demand and support industry-wide participation.
2. Independent data hosting and governance: All platform data is now hosted and managed by Accenture, providing a blockchain-powered, transparent, secure, reliable, and externally verified environment. This ensures data compartmentalization and transparency, giving customers clear control while enabling industry-wide trust.
3. Bring Your Own SAF (BYOS) model: Avelia is introducing a BYOS feature allowing airlines to upload and manage SAF originally purchased outside of the Shell supply chain or SAF that would otherwise have been tracked offline. This strengthens the book and claim mechanism by digitally tracking SAF use, enhancing credibility and transparency across the sector, and accelerating the uptake of SAF overall.
4. Industry collaboration and governance: Avelia is establishing a multilateral governance structure to involve multiple parties and provide more transparency around its operating procedures, encouraging broader industry collaboration and resilience.
Raman Ojha, President of Shell Aviation, stated that Avelia's evolution is a significant milestone for the aviation sector and a powerful demonstration of how collaboration, technology, and innovation can accelerate the scaling of SAF. Evan Konwiser, Chief Product and Strategy Officer of Amex GBT, added that reducing Scope 3 emissions, which represent the largest share of many companies' total carbon footprint, can be challenging, but Avelia aims to grow and evolve, accelerating the scale and increasing customer access to its environmental benefits.
SAF, produced from sustainable resources like waste oils and agricultural residues, is estimated to result in lifecycle GHG emissions reductions of up to 85% compared to conventional fuels. However, current SAF production accounts for just 0.7% of airlines' total fuel consumption, and efforts to increase its use face challenges such as low supply and high prices compared to conventional fossil-based fuels.
By expanding its use beyond a single fuel supplier, Avelia aims to address these challenges and facilitate the widespread adoption of SAF, contributing to a more sustainable aviation industry. Dr. Jesko-Philipp Neuenburg, Global Travel and Aviation Sustainability Lead at Accenture, confirmed that Accenture continues to shape Avelia's evolution while overseeing data processing and hosting for Shell.
In conclusion, Avelia's evolution from a single-supplier platform to a multi-supplier, blockchain-powered industry-wide solution with robust data governance and a BYOS option is a decisive step to scale SAF usage, fostering transparency, flexibility, industry participation, and ultimately advancing aviation's climate commitment goals.
Technology plays a crucial role in Avelia's evolution, as it transitions from a single-supplier platform to an industry-wide solution. The platform's data is now hosted and managed by Accenture, utilizing blockchain technology to ensure transparency, security, and reliability. Additionally, Avelia introduces a Bring Your Own SAF (BYOS) model, leveraging technology to digitally track SAF use outside of the Shell supply chain, thereby increasing credibility and transparency.
