Shell Becomes One Of The First Aviation Lubricants Suppliers To Tackle Lifecycle Carbon Emissions Across Its Product Portfolio

Shell Aviation (“Shell”) has introduced a new lifecycle sustainability approach for its AeroShell aviation lubricants to avoid, reduce and then compensate for lifecycle carbon emissions, improving aircraft performance while helping customers meet their net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG)¹ or carbon emissions ambitions.

In alignment with Shell’s target to become a net zero-emissions energy business by 2050, AeroShell has confirmed its commitment to continue working to avoid and reduce carbon emissions by optimising production and product design, embedding circularity into product packaging, improving the energy efficiency of facilities, and using renewable energy to reduce emissions across the supply chain. Shell will then purchase high-quality² , independently verified carbon credits to compensate for carbon emissions which are not currently being avoided or reduced.

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.

Vincent Begon, General Manager Aviation Lubricants, Shell Aviation, said: “While SAF 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. It is a real point of pride that AeroShell will now support our customers in maintaining aircraft performance while taking action on decarbonisation.”

“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 in support of AeroShell’s new lifecycle sustainability approach.

Dr Urs Thomann, Director Technologies, Processes and Sustainability, Pilatus Aircraft Ltd commented: “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.”

• Across Shell’s entire global lubricants business³ the measures implemented to avoid and reduce carbon emissions include:
• Increasing the use of re-refined base oils.
• Using more recycled content in our product plastic packaging, in support of Shell’s ambition of reaching 30% PCR use by 2030.
• Taking out over 55 KTonnes CO₂e of Scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions from our global lubricants operations, reducing our production step carbon intensity by more than 45% since 2016⁴.
• Over 50% of the electricity imported to our Shell Global Lube Oil Blending Plants (LOBPs) now coming 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 our lubricant blending plants, expecting to generate over 11,000 MWh of electricity annually, and can result in the avoidance of GHG emissions of over 6,000 tonnes CO₂e per year.
• Optimising delivery networks to reduce road transport by 1.3 million miles since 2021.

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.

The full AeroShell portfolio will be covered by the lifecycle sustainability strategy, including market leading products such as AeroShell Turbine Oil 560 (TEO), AeroShell Ascender (TEO), AeroShell Oil W100 (PEO), AeroShell Oil W 15W-50 (PEO), AeroShell Grease 33 (grease), and AeroShell Fluid 31 (fluid).

• Our growing portfolio includes Cordillera Azul National Park in Peru, which has not only prevented 25.2 million tonnes of carbon being released into our atmosphere,but safeguards 39 threatened species. One carbon credit is equal to 1 tonne of CO₂ emissions avoided or removed.
• CO₂ compensation does not imply that there is no environmental impact from the production and use of the product as associated emissions remain in the atmosphere. CO₂ compensation is not a substitute for switching to lower emission energy solutions or reducing the use of fossil fuels. Shell businesses focus first on emissions that can be avoided or reduced and only then, compensate the remaining emissions.
• “CO₂ compensated” indicates that Shell will engage in a transaction where an amount of CO₂ equivalent to the value of the remaining CO₂e emissions associated with the raw material extraction, transport, production, packaging, distribution, loss in use and end-of-life of the product are compensated through the purchase and retirement of carbon credits generated from CO₂ compensation projects. Although these carbon credits have been generated in accordance with international carbon standards, the compensation may not be exact.

About Shell Aviation
Shell has set a clear target to become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050, with Shell Aviation aligned with this ambition. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a key lever to achieve this. We also aim to be a SAF producer from 2025, and we’re investing in promising technologies to accelerate other production pathways such as Alcohol to Jet (AtJ) technology.

Our production activities, together with our supply deals, positions us strongly to support the decarbonisation of aviation.

For more information, visit Shell Aviation.

¹ *GHG or CO₂e (CO₂ equivalent) refers to CO₂, CH₄, N₂O.
² Our projects are independently verified and assessed using approved greenhouse gas accounting methodologies, all meet external carbon standards (e.g. Verra, the American Carbon Registry, Gold Standard, or Chinese Certified Emission Reduction), and in addition, go through Shell’s own due diligence.
³ AeroShell forms a small part of Shell’s global Lubricant’s business (less than 1% of global production volume).
⁴ Based on full year 2022 data.