The Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) potentially to 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 Aurora technology. This method reduces plant capital cost, increases production efficiency and achieves higher SAF yields compared to existing techniques, the company says.

Aether Aurora is a simplified evolution of a common industrial gas-to-liquid process; it slashes CapEx while simultaneously delivering high yield and broad feedstock support. This solution leverages technology licensed from strategic partner GTI Energy.

The Aether Aurora process converts gas streams of CO, CO₂, light hydrocarbons (including methane), and/or H2 into high-quality liquid fuels via primary three stages: 1.Syngas Generation; 2. FT Conversion; and 3. Upgrading, including a recycle loop that directs unconverted reactants and any byproduct gases from the Upgrading stage back to the Syngas Generation stage.

Aether Aurora creates fuel from any feedstock that can be converted to CO, CO₂, CH₄, and/or H₂. Aether Aurora’s novel electric thermochemical reactor provides higher yield, higher energy efficiency, and a smaller reactor footprint.

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.