Key Takeaways
- Montana Renewables, LLC (MRL) served as the exclusive fuel supplier for Gulfstream Aerospace's recent low emissions testing on its G800 aircraft, providing its MaxSAF sustainable aviation fuel.
- Gulfstream became the first business aviation company to complete a high-altitude flight test campaign demonstrating that 100% neat sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) can reduce contrail-forming particle emissions at altitudes up to 50,000 feet.
- The campaign compared conventional Jet-A, low-sulfur Jet-A, and neat hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) SAF, with Washington State University performing fuel property characterization ahead of the flight.
- Preliminary results point to a measurable reduction in particulate emissions that contribute to contrail formation when aircraft operate on neat SAF.
- Montana Renewables sources feedstocks including tallow, distillers corn oil, canola oil, used cooking oil, and camelina oil from Pacific Northwest farm and ranch operations to produce its renewable fuels.
Montana Renewables Supplies SAF for Gulfstream Emissions Testing
Montana Renewables, LLC (MRL) collaborated with Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. and its partners as the exclusive fuel supplier for recent low emissions testing on the Gulfstream G800 aircraft. MRL provided its MaxSAF sustainable aviation fuel for the test, while Washington State University performed fuel property characterization in preparation for the flight.
Details of the High-Altitude Flight Test
Through the testing, Gulfstream became the first business aviation company to complete a high-altitude flight test campaign demonstrating the potential for 100% neat SAF to reduce contrail-forming particle emissions at altitudes up to 50,000 feet. The campaign was designed to isolate how fuel composition affects non-CO2 emissions, comparing conventional Jet-A, low-sulfur Jet-A, and neat hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) SAF, which contains no sulfur or aromatics. Preliminary results suggest a measurable reduction in the particulate emissions that contribute to contrail formation when operating on neat SAF.
“As a leader in sustainable aviation fuel, we're excited to partner with Gulfstream to further illustrate the critical role of SAF in reducing emissions of carbon, sulfur, nitrogen and particulates in the business aviation industry,” said Bruce Fleming, CEO, Montana Renewables. “We're actively working to expand SAF production so we can rise to meet the growing demand of the industry and the world.”
Montana Renewables' Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production
Montana Renewables, based in Great Falls, Montana, produces sustainable aviation fuel, renewable diesel, renewable hydrogen, and renewable naphtha. The company sources feedstocks including tallow, distillers corn oil, canola oil, used cooking oil, and camelina oil from Pacific Northwest farm and ranch operations, converting them into transportation fuels with lower emissions than conventional fossil fuels. MRL is an unrestricted subsidiary of Calumet, Inc.
About Calumet and Montana Renewables' Feedstocks
Calumet, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLMT) manufactures, formulates, and markets specialty branded products and renewable fuels across consumer-facing and industrial markets, operating twelve facilities throughout North America from its Indianapolis, Indiana headquarters.
