Southwest Airlines is buying part of a company that's trying to develop a type of aviation fuel with lower carbon emissions than traditional jet fuel.
SAFFiRE Renewables is working with the US Department of Energy to convert a feed-stock called corn stover to ethanol and then upgrade that ethanol to aviation fuel.
"SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) is critical for decarbonizing the aviation sector," said Bob Jordan, Southwest's Chief Executive Officer.
"This is a unique opportunity to invest in what we believe could be game-changing technology that could facilitate the replacement of up to approximately five percent of our jet fuel with SAF by 2030, with the potential to significantly continue to scale beyond the decade. This first-of-its-kind investment is another step we are taking to address our environmental impact, and it also supports our efforts to partner with organizations and government entities to help our industry reach the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050."
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