Delta invests in the feasibility study of a facility to produce sustainable aviation fuel from forest floor debris
Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF.
Delta Air Lines
is investing 2 M$ in the feasibility study of a facility producing sustainable
aviation fuel (SAF) and other biofuel products. The aviation company is
partnering with Northwest Advanced
Bio-fuels, LLC (NWABF) for the development of this project.
Press release: “Delta invests $2 million for study of potential facility to produce
biofuel from forest floor debris”, 17/9/2019.
Figure 1. Delta invests in the feasibility
study of a facility to produce sustainable aviation fuel from forest floor
debris
The SAF, which would be produced in a facility
in Washington State, could be used in Delta operations at stations in Seattle,
Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles. This single project could provide
approximately 10% of Delta's annual jet fuel consumption in the West Coast
region.
NWABF's project would utilize wood residue deposits and wood slash lying on forest floors to produce the biofuel, which would qualify under a carbon-reducing pathway recognized by ASTM. NWABF plans first delivery of the fuel by the end of 2023. Delta expects the feasibility study to be complete by the middle of 2020. At that time, it will evaluate the next steps in moving forward with the project's development.