The Minnesota SAF Hub, with Delta as an anchor member alongside Greater MSP Partnership, Bank of America, Ecolab, and Xcel Energy, aims to reduce reliance on conventional jet fuel.
Delta is set to deploy its second-largest sustainable aviation fuel SAF hub in Minnesota. the third sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blending facility in the United States, enhancing SAF supply for Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP).
Peter Carter, executive vice president, external affairs, Delta stated: “Delta has committed to purchasing millions of gallons of SAF, but current production levels are insufficient to fuel the world’s airlines for even a week. This blending facility is crucial—it signals to SAF producers that Minnesota is open for business and presents a valuable opportunity for all stakeholders in the SAF value chain.”
Launched in August 2023, the Minnesota SAF Hub, with Delta as an anchor member alongside Greater MSP Partnership, Bank of America, Ecolab, and Xcel Energy, aims to advance SAF production and reduce reliance on conventional jet fuel. The hub recently achieved four key milestones:
SAF Blending Facility: Delta and Flint Hills Resources are developing a facility at the Pine Bend refinery in Rosemount, Minnesota, capable of blending up to 30 million gallons of neat SAF. The facility, expected to be completed in late 2025, will be the first between coasts to blend neat SAF with conventional jet fuel, with Shell supplying the SAF.
Cost-Competitive SAF: A “Demand Consortium” comprising Bank of America, Deloitte, Delta, and Ecolab will purchase SAF starting in late 2025 to drive production, reduce costs, and stimulate market growth.
SAF Production in Minnesota: A $16.8 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration will convert a Gevo facility in Luverne into an alcohol-to-jet fuel plant, enabling local SAF production.
Next-Generation Feedstocks: The University of Minnesota is developing winter camelina seed for SAF production, with the first camelina-derived SAF expected at MSP this fall.
Minnesota’s established biofuel industry, diverse feedstocks, and supportive policies make it an ideal location for the SAF Hub. Delta’s executive vice president, Peter Carter, highlighted the facility’s role in signaling opportunities for SAF producers and advancing the industry.
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SAF, which can reduce lifecycle carbon emissions by over 80% compared to conventional jet fuel, is critical for Delta’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. The Minnesota SAF Hub’s efforts are crucial in scaling SAF production and developing a sustainable aviation future.
