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

A Decade-Long Commitment to Sustainability

Under the MoU, the SIA Group plans to acquire neat SAF for an initial five-year term once Aether’s production facilities begin commercial operations. There is also the option to extend this collaboration for an additional five years. The neat SAF will be blended with conventional jet fuel and supplied to selected airports serviced by Singapore Airlines and its low-cost subsidiary, Scoot.

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

“This partnership marks another step in the SIA Group’s journey towards our long-term decarbonization 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 intends to utilize waste carbon feedstock to produce SAF, employing its innovative and proprietary Aether Aurora technology. This method promises several advantages over traditional techniques, including:

• Reduced Capital Costs: More cost-efficient implementation.
• Increased Production Efficiency: Maximizing output while minimizing resource consumption.
• Higher SAF Yields: Produces more fuel from the same amount of feedstock.

These benefits contribute to making the production process more sustainable and reducing the overall environmental impact of aviation fuel production.

Conor Madigan, CEO of Aether Fuels, emphasized the importance of this collaboration:

“We are proud to join the SIA Group’s ecosystem of SAF technology innovators. Their decarbonization goals are catalyzing ingenuity throughout the supply chain, prompting companies like Aether to develop production solutions that amalgamate breakthrough technologies with next-generation feedstock strategies. This collaboration will enhance our understanding of end-user priorities and the SAF market, especially in South East Asia.”

Expanding Global Operations

Founded in 2022 and backed by Xora, a deep tech venture firm supported by Temasek, Aether Fuels has been making remarkable progress in the sustainable fuel sector. The company has expanded its team in South East Asia and established a research and development center in Chicago.

Their upcoming commercial-scale production projects in the U.S. and South East Asia aim to produce CORSIA-certified SAF, targeting a minimum greenhouse gas reduction of 75%, significantly contributing to the aviation industry’s sustainability efforts.

Phil Inagaki, Managing Partner at Xora, commented:

“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 fostered an environment for deep tech innovation, empowering companies like Aether to amplify the impact of transformative solutions to global challenges.”

Paving the Way for Sustainable Aviation

The aviation sector faces considerable challenges in mitigating its carbon footprint. Partnerships like the one between SIA Group and Aether Fuels are vital for developing and implementing innovative solutions. By focusing on sustainable practices and investing in state-of-the-art technology, airlines can make significant headway towards achieving their long-term environmental objectives.

This MoU not only illustrates the SIA Group’s commitment to sustainability but also highlights Singapore’s role as a supportive hub for innovation in the green energy field.