Shell Aviation announces new lubricants lifecycle sustainability approach

Shell Aviation has introduced a new lifecycle sustainability approach for its AeroShell aviation lubricants to avoid, reduce and compensate for lifecycle carbon emissions. 

The new lifecycle sustainability approach will be included as standard across the full AeroShell product range, including turbine engine oils (TEOs), piston engine oils (PEOs), greases and fluids, for both the commercial airline and general aviation markets. 

“While SAF [sustainable aviation fuel] and fuel efficiency are rightly highlighted as key levers to decarbonise aviation, for the aviation sector to reach net zero it must address emissions from all aspects of aircraft operations in order to decarbonise—so this means lubricants too, even if they do represent a small proportion of aviation emissions when compared to jet fuel,” said Vincent Begon, general manager, Aviation Lubricants, Shell Aviation. 

“The fundamentals of lubricants mean that they are challenging to decarbonise, so a lot of effort has gone into developing this new proposition, including working with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), distributors and other key players across the lubricants industry. This is an important development for our aviation lubricants business, and one that we are confident will provide genuine value for our customers as we support them in decarbonising.” 

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd, a Swiss company developing, producing and selling aircrafts to global customers—many of which are using AeroShell products—are supporting AeroShell’s new lifecycle sustainability approach. 

“Shell has a strong track record of developing lubricants that deliver on safety and performance, so it is fantastic to see them continue to push the boundaries of the lubricants market, this time in the name of decarbonisation,” said Dr. Urs Thomann, director, Technologies, Processes and Sustainability, Pilatus Aircraft Ltd.

Across Shell’s entire global lubricants business the measures implemented to avoid and reduce carbon emissions include:

• Increasing the use of re-refined base oils.
• Using more recycled content in its product plastic packaging, in support of Shell’s ambition of reaching 30% post-consumer resin (PCR) use by 2030.
• Taking out over 55 KTonnes CO2e of Scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions from its global lubricants operations, reducing its production step carbon intensity by more than 45% since 2016. More than 50% of the electricity used at Shell Global Lube Oil Blending Plants (LOBPs) now come directly from renewable sources through the installation of solar PV panels and green power contracts, or indirectly using renewable energy credits (RECs).
• Installing solar PV panels at 11 of its lubricant blending plants are expected to generate more than 11,000 MWh of electricity annually, and can result in the avoidance of GHG emissions of more than 6,000 tonnes CO2e per year.
• Optimising delivery networks to reduce road transport by 1.3 million miles since 2021.

Shell will purchase high-quality independently verified carbon credits to compensate for carbon emissions which are not currently being avoided or reduced.

This upgrade to the AeroShell offering marks the latest step in Shell Aviation’s efforts to decarbonise in alignment with Shell’s net zero-emissions target which includes increasing low and no carbon offering to customers.