Montana Renewables Collaborates with Gulfstream for Low Emissions Testing

(Montana Renewable/Calumet/PR Newswire) Montana Renewables, LLC (MRL) is proud to have 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 MaxSAF® to fuel the aircraft and Washington State University performed fuel property characterization in preparation for the flight.

Through this testing, Gulfstream became the first business aviation company to successfully 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. This campaign was designed to isolate how fuel composition influences non-CO2 emissions, and compared 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 significant 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."

About Montana Renewables
Montana Renewables, LLC (MRL) is a leading renewable fuel company located in Great Falls, Montana. We produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), Renewable Diesel, Renewable Hydrogen, and Renewable Naphtha. As a leading SAF producer in North America, we are dedicated to meeting the increasing demand for sustainable fuels and to supporting a low-emissions future. As a Great Falls business leader, MRL offers high-paying jobs and career opportunities while supporting the local economy and contributing to the community's overall well-being. Pacific Northwest farm and ranch operations ultimately provide MRL with sustainable, renewable, low-carbon feedstocks and agricultural byproducts including tallow, distillers corn oil, canola oil, used cooking oil and camelina oil. These are converted to renewable transportation fuels which have lower emissions compared to conventional fossil fuels. MRL is an unrestricted subsidiary of Calumet, Inc.

About Calumet
Calumet, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLMT) manufactures, formulates, and markets a diversified slate of specialty branded products and renewable fuels to customers across a broad range of consumer-facing and industrial markets. Calumet is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and operates twelve facilities throughout North America. READ MORE

Excerpt from Aviation Week: The G800 flew at up to 50,000 ft. on 100% SAF while a G700 measured its engine emissions and contrail production.

Gulfstream has conducted the first demonstration of reductions in contrail-forming emissions at high altitude using 100% sustainable aviation fuel. The flight tests used a G800 business jet powered by Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines.

The G800 was flown at altitudes up to 50,000 ft. on conventional Jet A fuel, low-sulfur Jet A and neat hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Inflight emissions were measured by a Gulfstream-modified G700 flying in formation.

HEFA SAF contains no sulfur or aromatic hydrocarbons, constituents of fossil jet fuel that are known to produce particulate emissions in the engine exhaust that can lead to the formation of ice crystals and production of contrails in certain atmospheric conditions.

The first inflight study of the impact of using 100% SAF on the formation of contrail ice crystals was conducted in 2021 under the ECLIF3 project involving Airbus, Rolls-Royce, German Aerospace Center (DLR) and HEFA SAF producer Neste.

Compared to a reference Jet A-1 fuel, the number of contrail ice crystals per mass of unblended SAF consumed was reduced by 56%. The climate warming impact of contrails was estimated to be reduced by at least 26% with 100% SAF.

The ECLIF3 study involved an Airbus A350-900 powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84 high-bypass turbofans at a cruise altitude of 35,000 ft., with a DLR-owned Dassault Falcon 20 taking the near-fuel and far-field inflight emissions and contrail measurements.

The Gulfstream flights were the first to measure contrail production at the high altitudes at which larger business jets such as the G800 fly. Most contrails are formed at 32,000-42,000 ft., altitudes at which commercial aircraft cruise, while the G800 can fly up to 51,000 ft. where the atmosphere is drier and colder and contrail generation is reduced.

Two flights were performed, both of the G800’s engines operating on 100% SAF for that portion of the testing. The flights were conducted in collaboration with the FAA’s Ascent Center of Excellence for alternative jet fuels and environment, NASA, DLR, Missouri University, Aerodyne Research, Rolls-Royce and SAF suppliers Montana Renewables and World Fuel Services. READ MORE