Petrobras, Brazil’s national oil company, is using Cardano to track two of its green fuels end to end, with digital checkpoints following the production, transportation and use of both sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel. The Cardano Foundation announced the move today, calling it part of a wider research effort that started back in 2023.
The system creates digital checkpoints along the entire chain, from production through delivery to final use. That matters for Scope 3 reporting, which covers indirect emissions across a company’s full value chain. The foundation did not disclose fuel volumes covered by the applications or a timeline for broader deployment.
The Fuel Breakdown
Petrobras produces two green fuels through this system:
- Sustainable aviation fuel, used for aircraft
- Diesel R, the company’s renewable diesel fuel
The checkpoint approach applies to both. The Cardano Foundation described the data as supporting Scope 3 reporting, which covers indirect emissions across a company’s value chain.
The projects grew out of an earlier partnership. In 2023, the Cardano Foundation worked with Petrobras on blockchain education for its staff. The collaboration expanded in 2025 to energy-sector research with PUC-Rio’s Ledger Labs.
How the System Works
The digital checkpoints record each step in the fuel’s journey. That includes production, transportation and final use. The Cardano Foundation said the data could support Scope 3 reporting, which covers indirect emissions across a company’s value chain.
The system is designed to follow a batch of fuel from the moment it is made until it reaches its final destination. Each checkpoint adds information about where the fuel went and what it was used for.
What Shell Is Doing
Shell has taken a similar path with its own sustainable aviation fuel, using a Book-and-Claim platform called Avelia. Launched in 2022, Avelia tracks claims and prevents double counting.
A September update from Shell said Avelia has contributed to more than 84 million gallons of SAF entering the global fuel network since its launch in 2022. The same update said that resulted in more than 780,000 tonnes of CO₂e abatement through June 2026.
Australia’s Viva Energy
Australia’s Viva Energy signed an agreement with NoviqTech in January to research digital Book-and-Claim systems for sustainable aviation fuel. The partnership looks at how blockchain could support emissions reporting and track environmental claims.
The comparison below shows where each company’s approach sits:
| Company | Platform | Fuel Covered | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrobras | Cardano | SAF + Diesel R | Ongoing R&D, no volumes disclosed |
| Shell | Avelia | SAF | 84 million gallons tracked since 2022 |
| Viva Energy | NoviqTech | SAF | Research agreement signed Jan 2026 |
The Scope 3 Angle
Scope 3 reporting is the key difference here. It covers indirect emissions across a company’s full value chain.
The checkpoint approach lets Petrobras see where emissions actually happen, not just where the fuel is burned. That distinction matters for companies trying to meet climate targets. Shell’s Avelia focuses on direct claims tied to SAF, while Petrobras’ system covers both SAF and renewable diesel across their full life cycles.
Why Blockchain Fits
Blockchain offers a shared ledger that cannot be changed after the fact. For fuels that cross borders and hands, that matters. A checkpoint at each stage means a batch of fuel can be followed from refinery to runway without a single number being moved.
The Cardano Foundation’s role in the project is worth noting. Its work with Petrobras staff in 2023 laid the groundwork, and the 2025 expansion with PUC-Rio’s Ledger Labs brought academic research into the picture. The foundation’s continued involvement signals sustained commitment to the research effort.
What Comes Next
The foundation did not say when the system might move beyond research. No volumes were disclosed, and no timeline for broader deployment was given.
That leaves the question of scale open. A pilot is one thing; a system covering every barrel of diesel and every gallon of jet fuel is another. The system is currently in the research phase, with no announced plans for scaling up.
The Broader Picture
The comparison with Shell’s Avelia shows the pattern. Both use blockchain to track environmental claims across a supply chain that otherwise would be hard to trace. While Avelia focuses narrowly on SAF claims, Petrobras’ system extends to both SAF and diesel across their production, transport and use.
Our View
This is a real use of blockchain that matters for climate reporting. The checkpoint approach gives Petrobras a way to measure indirect emissions across its entire value chain, which is exactly what Scope 3 reporting demands.
The partnership with PUC-Rio’s Ledger Labs adds academic weight to the project. Research on energy-sector blockchain applications is still young, and this kind of collaboration brings fresh ideas into the field.
Whether this becomes a standard tool for the industry depends on how well it scales. A pilot is one thing; a system covering every barrel of diesel and every gallon of jet fuel is another.
For now, the announcement stands as proof that blockchain can do more than trade tokens. It can track physical goods across a complex supply chain, and it can do so in a way that supports real climate reporting.
The project continues.
See the a run of 18 images at Cointelegraph.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.