Delta Air Lines and Colorado-based producer Gevo have signed a new long-term sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) offtake agreement that will see the commercial operator accept 10 million gallons of SAF a year. The fuel is expected to be available for use by the airline in the 2022-2023 timeframe, after Gevo completes the expansion of its advanced biofuel production facility in Luverne, Minn.
“Long-term investments such as our agreement with Gevo are critical to Delta’s goal to lower our carbon footprint while planning for a more sustainable future,” said Graeme Burnett, the carrier’s senior vice president for fuel management. “Fuel is an airline’s biggest area of impact and therefore presents our greatest opportunity to drive solutions that care for the planet.”
SAF provides significant environmental benefits over conventional jet fuels since its lifecycle carbon footprint can be up to 75 percent less, and Gevo’s product is synthesized from inedible industrial corn products. Its patented process separates the sugars from the proteins and uses them to make jet fuel, while the remainder is used for livestock feed. The manure is collected and used in biogas digesters to produce natural gas, while the solid matter is reclaimed as fertilizer for the fields, creating a continuous renewable production cycle.