Digital fuel supplier Valcora has signed its first third-party agreement to offer customers more ways of offsetting carbon emissions. In collaboration with Shell, Valcora will offset fuel emissions through nature-based carbon credits. All Shell Aviation fuels sold through the Valcora digital fuel purchasing platform will be carbon neutral, meaning that emissions will be offset via carbon credits automatically included with the purchase of the fuel.

In addition, Valcora customers purchasing fuel from other fuel providers through the online system will also have the option to offset emissions through nature-based carbon credits from Shell's portfolio. Each carbon credit is subject to a third-party verification process and represents the avoidance or removal of one tonne of CO2. The move strengthens Valcora's existing sustainability offering, which enables customers to contribute to a carefully curated portfolio of international environmental and conservation projects.

“We are pleased to offer the aviation industry access to independently certified nature-based carbon credits from Shell's portfolio. Following the successful launch of our own conservation programme, the addition of the Shell offering perfectly complements our commitment to supporting the industry-wide aim of working towards a carbon neutral future,” says CEO Daniel Coetzer. “We particularly appreciate that Shell is offering our customers the option to purchase these carbon credits regardless of which providers they buy fuel from. This helps us maximise the opportunities for all our customers to address their CO2 emissions.”

While sustainable aviation fuel and other low-carbon aviation technologies are in development, carbon credits from nature-based solutions have the potential to reduce aviation emissions now. Nature-based solutions comprise all activities related to the protection, creation or redevelopment of natural ecosystems, such as forests, grasslands and wetlands, to help absorb greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Such activities help deliver many other benefits, including improvements in biodiversity, water quality, flood protection and livelihoods. They can also result in the creation, marketing, trading and sale of carbon credits.

Shell buys carbon credits from a global portfolio of nature-based projects, including the Cordillera Azul National Park Project in Peru, Katingan Peatland Restoration and Conservation Project in Indonesia and GreenTrees Reforestation Project in the USA.

“We know the industry is shining a light on the need to encourage greater use of biofuels as well as develop new technology to support carbon emission reduction,” adds Coetzer. “The fact is drop-in biofuel is still limited in terms of availability and low-carbon propulsion systems are still very much in the future. We wanted to do something now. Our own conservation portfolio has been well received and we are delighted to have signed this agreement with Shell Aviation to strengthen our offering. It is imperative that we all make a contribution to protect the planet.”