Delta buys $1 billion worth of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)

Delta Air Lines has closed a 10-year deal with renewable fuels company Aemetis, worth more than $1 billion, to source sustainable aviation fuel for its flights. Delta has committed to airline carbon-neutrality and intends to replace 10% of its conventional jet fuel consumption with SAF by 2030.

SAF is a low-carbon jet fuel made from renewable biomass and waste resources. SAF reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and can create new economic opportunities in farming communities and boost aircraft performance.

The fuel, as EnvironmentalLeader reports, will be produced at Aemetis's Riverbank, California renewable jet/diesel plant, currently under development, and is expected to be available for use by Delta in 2024. The large plant is designed to produce below renewable fuels by utilizing cellulosic hydrogen from waste forest and orchard wood along with onsite CO2 carbon sequestration.

The 100% renewably powered plant will utilize cellulosic hydrogen, made from carbon-negative waste wood to hydrotreat vegetable or other renewable oils to produce aviation and diesel fuel. The process technology is licensed from Axens (France), a global technology provider to the oil and chemical industries.