Amex GBT, Shell, Google Extend Avelia SAF Platform Collaboration

American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT), Shell Aviation, and Google have extended their collaboration on the Avelia platform, a blockchain-based solution for corporate investment in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The platform, which utilizes a 'book and claim' model, has facilitated the abatement of more than 590,000 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (CO2e) since its launch. This extension signals growing corporate commitment to decarbonizing business travel through verifiable emissions reduction programs.

The collaboration addresses a core challenge in aviation sustainability: the high cost and limited supply of SAF. By allowing companies like Google to purchase the environmental attributes of SAF without taking physical delivery of the fuel, the Avelia platform aggregates demand and provides crucial financial signals to fuel producers. This 'book and claim' system effectively decouples the environmental benefits from the physical fuel molecules, enabling investment to flow where SAF production is most efficient while allowing corporations to claim reductions against their Scope 3 travel emissions.

Avelia's Growth and Impact

Launched in 2022, the Avelia platform has gained significant traction. According to an Amex GBT press release, 66 corporations and airlines had joined the platform as of March 2026. The platform has successfully integrated more than 64 million gallons of SAF into global fuel networks. This growth is critical, as SAF can reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel, according to Shell Aviation.

In a statement, Vrushali Gaud, Global Director of Climate Operations at Google, described SAF as a "critical unlock for decarbonizing the hard-to-abate aviation sector." Andrew Crawley, President of Amex GBT, emphasized that corporate demand is essential for the industry's growth. "Building a lower-carbon future for travel requires a joint effort from the entire ecosystem," Crawley stated. Raman Ojha, President of Shell Aviation, added that Google's continued commitment provides "important financial signals for the SAF ecosystem."

The 'Book and Claim' Mechanism

The Avelia platform's foundation is its blockchain-powered registry, co-developed with Accenture and the Energy Web Foundation. This technology ensures that the environmental attributes of each gallon of SAF are tracked transparently and retired permanently, preventing double-counting. For corporate clients, this provides a verifiable and auditable method to account for their investments in decarbonization, a key requirement under emerging regulations.

This model directly impacts corporate sustainability reporting. By purchasing SAF certificates through Avelia, businesses can address their Scope 3 emissions—indirect emissions that occur in a company's value chain, including business travel. This is increasingly important as regulatory bodies demand more rigorous environmental disclosures.

The platform has also evolved to a 'Bring Your Own SAF' (BYOS) model. This multi-supplier approach allows airlines to manage SAF sourced from various producers, moving away from a single-supplier ecosystem and fostering a more competitive and resilient market.

Regulatory and Market Context

The growth of platforms like Avelia is supported by a strengthening regulatory environment. The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) from the European Commission requires external assurance of carbon data, driving demand for verified registries. In the United States, the Clean Fuels Production Tax Credit (45Z) provides financial incentives to scale SAF production.

This development follows historical precedents that validated the book-and-claim concept. In November 2023, the launch of the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) Book & Claim Registry created a standardized framework. This demonstrated the model's viability and paved the way for corporate-focused platforms. However, the emergence of multiple registries, including the SABA SAF-c Registry, has raised concerns among some market analysts about potential fragmentation and a lack of interoperability.

Technical Analysis

The extension of the Amex GBT, Shell, and Google partnership confirms that the book-and-claim model, underpinned by blockchain, is solidifying its role as the primary financial instrument for scaling SAF. This approach effectively solves a logistical impasse: SAF production is geographically concentrated, while demand for emissions reduction is global. By separating the environmental attribute from the physical product, Avelia creates a liquid market for decarbonization that can operate at a global scale. The shift to a multi-supplier BYOS model further indicates the maturation of this market, moving from closed-loop systems to an open, more competitive framework. This structure is becoming essential for providing the long-term offtake agreements that SAF producers need to secure financing for new production facilities, accelerating the industry's overall growth trajectory.

What Comes Next

The industry anticipates further clarification on how SAF certificates can be used for corporate climate goals. The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is expected to release revisions to its Corporate Net-Zero Standard regarding the use of environmental attribute certificates in late 2026. These revisions will be critical in defining the long-term value and accounting standards for SAF book-and-claim systems.

Meanwhile, global SAF production continues to ramp up. According to the Amex GBT SAF Index, production has increased 24-fold since 2021 and is expected to reach 713 million gallons by the end of 2025.

Why This Matters

This collaboration is significant because it demonstrates a scalable, market-based solution to fund aviation's energy transition. It validates a model where corporate travel budgets directly contribute to decarbonization, providing the crucial demand signal needed to expand SAF production and lower its cost premium over time. For the broader aviation industry, it represents a key pathway to meeting ambitious net-zero targets.

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