# Understanding SAF buyers

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2024-05-16
- Length: 29m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-05-16-understanding-saf-buyers

## Summary

Amelia DeLuca, Chief Sustainability Officer at Delta Airlines, explains the company's strategy for scaling sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) procurement, noting that while demand from corporate clients exceeds supply, production remains limited. She details Delta's 'Minnesota SAF Hub' initiative, which aggregates multiple feedstocks and technologies—including HEFA, alcohol-to-jet, and power-to-liquids—to overcome financing and infrastructure bottlenecks. DeLuca emphasizes that regulatory frameworks like ReFuelEU and federal incentives are critical to lowering the green premium, while arguing that airlines must procure actual fuel rather than relying solely on carbon removal credits to decarbonize.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-05-16-understanding-saf-buyers#t=1) Introduction: Catalyst and the SAF Market
- [3:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-05-16-understanding-saf-buyers#t=218) Delta's SAF Procurement History and Volume
- [6:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-05-16-understanding-saf-buyers#t=391) Corporate Customer Demand and Scope 3 Emissions
- [8:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-05-16-understanding-saf-buyers#t=512) The Minnesota SAF Hub and Ecosystem Approach
- [10:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-05-16-understanding-saf-buyers#t=652) Technical Pathways: HEFA, Alcohol-to-Jet, and PTL
- [17:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-05-16-understanding-saf-buyers#t=1066) The Green Premium, Incentives, and Pricing
- [20:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-05-16-understanding-saf-buyers#t=1221) Regulatory Mandates: ReFuelEU and Global Policy
- [23:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-05-16-understanding-saf-buyers#t=1416) Blending Limits and Infrastructure Hubs
- [26:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-05-16-understanding-saf-buyers#t=1577) Power-to-Liquids vs. Carbon Removal Credits

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Delta Airlines (company)
- Neste (company)
- HEFA (other)
- ReFuelEU (other)
- Minnesota SAF Hub (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [HIBT Lab! Universal Hydrogen: Paul Eremenko](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-10-20-hibt-lab-universal-hydrogen-paul-eremenko) (How I Built This)
- [The Next Frontier of Aviation and AM's Impact with Tim Berry of JetZero](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2024-11-12-the-next-frontier-of-aviation-and-ams-impact-with-tim-berry-of-jetzero) (Additive Snack)
- [HIBT Lab! Boom Supersonic: Blake Scholl](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-02-23-hibt-lab-boom-supersonic-blake-scholl) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-05-16-understanding-saf-buyers. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Catalyst.