JAL, ENEOS join pilot to certify and trade environmental value of HVO biofuel

On 8 October, Japan Airlines (JAL) and ENEOS, together with seven other companies, announced participation in a pilot of the Clean Fuel Certificate System, a scheme run by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s External Affairs Office and the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy.

The system will certify the environmental value of biofuels such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and allow that value to be traded separately from the fuel itself; ENEOS will import HVO and issue the certificates, while JAL and the other demand‑side participants—including NTT Docomo, KAJIMA Construction, Shimizu Construction, T2, Tokyu Construction, NIPPO and Toyota Motor Corporation—will use the certificates. HVO is produced by hydrogenating waste cooking oil and delivers a 60‑80 % lifecycle decarbonisation compared with conventional fuel, and ENEOS has already imported HVO to its Negishi refinery in Yokohama where it can be blended with existing fuel for shipment.