The Singapore
Airlines (SIA) Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to potentially
source neat sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from Aether Fuels (Aether), a
climate technology firm that plans to set up SAF production plants in the
United States of America and South East Asia.
The
agreement outlines the SIA Group’s intention to procure neat SAF for five years
when Aether plants begin commercial production, with an option for a five-year
extension. The neat SAF will be blended with regular jet fuel before being supplied
to selected airports served by Singapore Airlines and Scoot.
Aether will
use waste carbon feedstock to produce the fuel, employing its innovative and
proprietary Aether AuroraTM technology. This method reduces plant
capital cost, increases production efficiency, and achieves higher SAF yields compared
to existing techniques.
Ms Lee Wen Fen, Chief Sustainability
Officer, Singapore Airlines, said: “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.”
Aether was
incubated and funded in 2022 by Xora, a deep tech venture firm backed by
Temasek. Since then, it has grown its South East Asia team while expanding its
operations in Chicago, where its research and development hub is located. Aether’s
upcoming commercial-scale production projects in the United States of America and
South East Asia will produce Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for
International Aviation (CORSIA)-certified SAF. These projects are set to
achieve a minimum greenhouse gas reduction of 75%, significantly contributing
to the aviation industry’s sustainability efforts.
Mr Conor
Madigan, Chief Executive Officer, Aether Fuels, said: “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 the 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.”
Mr Phil
Inagaki, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer, Xora; Board Chair, Aether
Fuels, said: “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™ breakthrough technology enables the production
of SAF with the lowest green premium and most flexible, scalable feedstock.
This collaboration with the SIA Group reflects a shared focus and commitment,
making it a natural fit that will undoubtedly accelerate SAF innovation and
adoption.”
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