In a significant stride towards sustainable aviation, the Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with climate technology firm Aether Fuels. This landmark agreement aims to potentially source neat sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from Aether, further propelling the airline’s commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

A Decade-Long Commitment to Sustainability

Under the MoU, the SIA Group intends to procure neat SAF for an initial period of five years once Aether’s production plants commence commercial operations. There’s also an option to extend this partnership for an additional five years. The neat SAF will be blended with regular jet fuel and supplied to selected airports served by Singapore Airlines and its low-cost subsidiary, Scoot.

Ms Lee Wen Fen, Chief Sustainability Officer at Singapore Airlines, expressed her enthusiasm:

“This partnership marks another step in the SIA Group’s journey towards our long-term decarbonisation goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. By collaborating with like-minded ecosystem partners such as Aether, we aim to accelerate and scale up the adoption of SAF in our flight operations, laying the groundwork for more sustainable air travel.”

Innovative Technology for a Greener Future

Aether Fuels plans to utilise waste carbon feedstock to produce SAF, employing their innovative and proprietary Aether Aurora

• Reduced Capital Costs: The technology is designed to be more cost-efficient to implement.
• Increased Production Efficiency: Maximising output while minimising resource usage.
• Higher SAF Yields: Producing more fuel from the same amount of feedstock.

These benefits not only make the production process more sustainable but also contribute to lowering the overall environmental impact of aviation fuel production.

Mr Conor Madigan, Chief Executive Officer of Aether Fuels, highlighted the significance of the collaboration:

“We are proud to join the SIA Group’s ecosystem of SAF technology innovators. Their decarbonisation goals are catalysing ingenuity throughout the supply chain and galvanising companies like Aether to develop production solutions that pair breakthrough technologies with next-generation feedstock strategies. The collaboration will deepen our understanding of end-user customer priorities and of the SAF market, particularly in South East Asia. These advantages will further inform our project development programmes and accelerate our path to commercialisation.”

Expanding Global Operations

Aether Fuels, incubated and funded in 2022 by Xora, a deep tech venture firm backed by Temasek, has been making strides in the sustainable fuel sector. The company has expanded its South East Asia team and established a research and development hub in Chicago.

Their upcoming commercial-scale production projects in the United States and South East Asia are set to produce Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA)-certified SAF. These projects aim to achieve a minimum greenhouse gas reduction of 75%, making a substantial contribution to the aviation industry’s sustainability efforts.

Mr Phil Inagaki, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer at Xora and Board Chair of Aether Fuels, commented on the partnership:

“It is encouraging to see the SIA Group committing to meaningful sustainability goals and taking concrete steps to advance the adoption of SAF. Singapore has built a supportive environment for deep tech innovation, empowering companies like Aether to amplify the impact of transformative solutions to global challenges. Its Aurora

Paving the Way for Sustainable Aviation

The aviation industry faces significant challenges in reducing its carbon footprint. Partnerships like this between the SIA Group and Aether Fuels are essential in developing and implementing innovative solutions. Airlines can make substantial progress towards long-term environmental goals by focusing on sustainable practices and investing in cutting-edge technology.

This MoU not only highlights the SIA Group’s dedication to sustainability but also showcases Singapore’s role as a supportive hub for technological innovation in the green energy sector.