Calgary startup aims to launch sustainable aviation fuel facilities on the Prairies [Video]

For anyone who has flown with United Airlines over the last year or so, you’ve likely seen the in-flight video promoting the company’s first Chief Trash Officer — Oscar the Grouch.

It’s all part of a marketing campaign to promote the airline’s ambitions to use more sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the future. SAF is biofuel that can be made from food waste and agricultural products. It’s more expensive than jet fuel, but it’s less polluting and can already be used by aircraft without any engine modifications.

It’s one of many potential low-carbon fuels that was a point of focus at the CERAWeek by S&P Global energy conference in Houston this week. SAF could potentially help reduce emissions, but faces many challenges and years of development before eventually perhaps becoming mainstream.

Calgary-based startup Cap Clean Energy wants to produce SAF in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba using crop residue, such as …