GHG Emissions, Commercial, Sourcing Renewables  -  January 31, 2020

Delta enters offtake agreement for sustainable aviation fuel

Delta Air Lines announced Jan. 30 that it has entered into one of the largest airline offtake agreements of its kind to purchase sustainable aviation fuel, if produced, from Northwest Advanced Bio-Fuels.

In October, the airline announced its $2 million investment for an ongoing feasibility study with NWABF to determine the potential for a facility in Washington state that could supply sustainable aviation fuel for Delta operations in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles by mid-2020. The agreement announced this week will allow Delta access to sustainable aviation fuel that may be produced from such a facility.

The offtake agreement expects the advanced planning study to conclude later this year and that fuel will begin production by the end of 2024.

“This focused study and long-term agreement will support Delta’s goals to lower our carbon footprint aggressively,” Alison Lathrop, Delta’s Managing Director of Global Environment, Sustainability and Compliance said in a statement. “Investing in developing multiple sources of sustainable aviation fuel is one of the many ways we are looking to address climate change. Working alongside Northwest Advanced Bio-Fuels to produce and utilize sustainable aviation fuel could serve as an industry-best-practice-model for future endeavors.” 

The airline estimates that sustainable aviation fuel would reduce lifecycle emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel.

This agreement follows a similar offtake agreement with Gevo for biofuel production in Minnesota, which should be available to Delta between 2022 and 2023.

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