The SAF purchased by United will be sufficient to fly more than 50,000 flights annually between its hub airports in Chicago and Denver. Credit: United Airlines, Inc.

United Airlines, Tallgrass, and Green Plains have formed a new joint venture (JV) for developing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) technology utilising ethanol as feedstock.

The companies intend to invest up to $50m in the JV, called Blue Blade Energy, for the development of this technology.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Premium Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

Once the technology is successfully developed, the JV plans to build a pilot facility next year, as well as a full-scale facility by 2028.

Under the partnership, Tallgrass will be responsible for managing the technology’s research and development work, including the development of the pilot plant.

It will also be involved in managing the construction of the production facility.

See Also:

Green Plains will deliver the low-carbon ethanol feedstock and manage operations after the pilot facility is built.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

United Airlines will support the SAF development, fuel certification and into-wing logistics.

The carrier has also agreed to procure up to 2.7 billion gallons of SAF produced from the JV.

The SAF purchased will be sufficient to operate more than 50,000 flights on a yearly basis between the airline’s hub airports in Chicago and Denver.

United Airlines Ventures president Michael Leskinen said: “The production and use of SAF is the most effective and scalable tool the airline industry has to reduce carbon emissions and United continues to lead the way.

“This new joint venture includes two expert collaborators that have the experience to construct and operate large-scale infrastructure, as well as the feedstock supply necessary for success.

“Once operational, Blue Blade Energy has the potential to create United’s largest source of SAF providing up to 135 million gallons of fuel annually.”

Researchers at the US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) developed Blue Blade’s SAF technology.