Low-carbon fuel pilot at Changi Airport aims to catalyse outcomes to power the future of aviation 

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), in partnership with the Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Singapore-headquartered global investment company Temasek will pilot the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in Singapore. On 10 November 2021, a Request for Proposal was called to invite select SAF producers and fuel suppliers to develop and execute plans to deliver blended SAF to the Singapore Changi Airport. The pilot will commence in 2022 and is expected to run for a year. The pilot is a follow-up to an earlier study conducted by the Singapore Government and industry players on the operational and commercial viability of using SAF at Changi Airport.

Mr Han Kok Juan, Director-General of CAAS said, “Sustainability will be a key priority of the aviation sector as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic and SAF will be a critical enabler in the sector’s decarbonisation efforts. The pilot which will incorporate the blending of neat SAF in local facilities, certification of blended SAF, and delivery to Changi Airport is a significant step to operationally validate SAF integration options in Singapore. It will provide insights on end-to-end cost components, potential pricing structures for cost recovery and support future policy considerations for SAF deployment.”

Ms Lee Wen Fen, Senior Vice President Corporate Planning, Singapore Airlines said, “Sustainable fuels will be one of the key decarbonisation levers in the aviation sector, and we are pleased to partner CAAS and Temasek on this pilot in Singapore. This will support the SIA Group’s commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, reinforcing our long-standing strategy of working towards decarbonisation and environmental sustainability across our operations.”

Mr Frederick Teo, Temasek’s Managing Director, Sustainable Solutions, said: “Tackling the climate emergency requires the acceleration of decarbonisation strategies, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors such as aviation and transport. This pilot project will trial the production and deployment of low-carbon fuels, with potential outcomes that could put the aviation sector on a path towards net zero. We look forward to working closely with CAAS and Singapore Airlines to collate real world data on the practical benefits that sustainable aviation fuel can bring. This partnership underscores Temasek’s commitment to a net zero carbon emissions portfolio by 2050, as we seek to catalyse industry-wide decarbonisation efforts to address today’s carbon challenges.”

The launch of the SAF pilot at the Singapore Changi Airport follows the unveiling of the SAF Policy Toolkit at the side-lines of the 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on the same day. The SAF Policy Toolkit is developed by the World Economic Forum (WEF) Clean Skies for Tomorrow SAF Ambassadors Group of which Singapore is a member. Other participating governments include Costa Rica, Kenya, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom (UK). The Toolkit provides a menu of options to help policymakers around the world grow a sustainable SAF supply, stimulate SAF demand, and enable a healthy SAF ecosystem.

The Clean Skies for Tomorrow initiative provides a global mechanism for top executives and public leaders to align on a transition to SAF as part of a meaningful and proactive pathway for the industry to achieve carbon-neutral flying. The SAF Ambassadors Group comprises various governments working together to develop SAF policy proposals that may be implemented by industry and States to support SAF deployment. The SAF Policy Toolkit developed by the Ambassadors Group may be accessed at https://www.weforum.org/reports/clean-skies-for-tomorrow-sustainable-aviation-fuel-policy-toolkit.

About the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore

The mission of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is to grow a safe, vibrant air hub and civil aviation system, making a key contribution to Singapore's success. CAAS' roles are to oversee and promote safety in the aviation industry, develop the air hub and aviation industry, provide air navigation services, provide aviation training for human resource development, and contribute to the development of international civil aviation. For more information, visit www.caas.gov.sg