Montana Renewables ships sustainable aviation fuel to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport

Photo: Calumet Inc.

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) producer Montana Renewables LLC, a subsidiary of Calumet Inc., has produced and shipped Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport’s first blend of SAF.

This, according to Calumet, marks a significant milestone in the global transition to cleaner, sustainable aviation fuels and serves as a proof point in support of the Minnesota SAF Hub.

“We are pleased to remain at the forefront of the SAF revolution,” said Bruce Fleming, CEO of Montana Renewables.

“Montana Renewables is an ISCC-approved SAF producer and the SAF being sold to MSP is produced from Minnesota camelina,” Fleming said.

“This demonstrates shorter local supply chains, and pioneers camelina as a viable nonfood oil that provides additional cash=crop potential for farmers,” he said.

Montana Renewables thanked Shell Aviation, the Minnesota SAF Hub, and many others that have come together to deliver this “proof point.”

The SAF shipment from Great Falls, Montana, was scheduled to arrive at the MSP Airport Sept. 20 and will be used in Delta Air Lines commercial flights.

According to Montana Renewables, Pacific Northwest farm and ranch operations ultimately provide its facility 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.

SAF is a combination of synthetic paraffinic kerosene (SPK) and conventional jet fuel, which meets ASTM D7566 and ASTM D1655 specifications.

Designed to reduce the aviation industry’s carbon footprint, SAF is drop-in compatible with existing aviation-fueling infrastructure and aircraft-engine technology.