Singapore Airlines (SIA) has entered into a three-year agreement with Aether Beacon Pte Ltd (Aether) to acquire up to 4,800 tonnes of next-generation sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), with supplies scheduled to begin in 2028.
The agreement makes Singapore Airlines the first carrier to secure SAF from Project Beacon, Aether’s upcoming commercial production facility at Aster’s refining complex on Pulau Bukom, Singapore. It also represents a significant development in the airline’s sustainable fuel procurement strategy, as SIA ventures into an innovative production process that transforms waste carbon materials into aviation fuel.
Project Beacon will manufacture SAF using alternative raw materials, including biomethane and waste gases generated by industrial operations. Production will be powered by Aether’s proprietary Aurora technology, which adapts the Fischer-Tropsch conversion process to transform waste-derived gases into liquid fuel suitable for aviation.
Unlike the conventional hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) production method, which depends on relatively limited supplies of lipid-based materials, Aether’s technology introduces another pathway for producing sustainable aviation fuel. The resulting SAF will be certified in accordance with the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).
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Aether is preparing to take a major step towards expanding its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production capabilities, with plans to establish its first large-scale commercial manufacturing facility by 2031. The development forms part of the company’s long-term strategy to increase the availability of next-generation aviation fuels and support the aviation industry’s transition towards lower-carbon operations. Building on the progress of Project Beacon in Singapore, the proposed facility is expected to strengthen Aether’s position in the emerging SAF market.
The planned commercial plant is expected to have a production capacity at least ten times greater than that of Project Beacon, representing a substantial increase in Aether’s manufacturing ambitions. This expansion would allow the company to produce significantly larger volumes of sustainable aviation fuel using its innovative conversion technology. By scaling up production, Aether aims to address the growing need for alternative aviation fuels as airlines explore ways to reduce their reliance on conventional fossil-based jet fuel.
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A key element of Aether’s expansion strategy is its proprietary Aurora technology, which converts waste-derived carbon feedstocks, including biomethane and industrial waste gases, into liquid aviation fuel. Unlike traditional SAF production methods that depend heavily on lipid-based materials, this approach offers opportunities to diversify the raw materials used in fuel manufacturing. Expanding the technology to a larger commercial facility could help demonstrate its suitability for industrial-scale production while creating additional opportunities for waste-carbon utilisation.
The proposed 2031 development also highlights the importance of long-term investment and technological innovation in strengthening the sustainable aviation fuel supply chain. As airlines face increasing pressure to pursue their decarbonisation commitments, the availability of commercially produced SAF is expected to become an important consideration for future fuel procurement. Through Project Beacon and its planned large-scale facility, Aether is seeking to establish a broader production network that could contribute to the development of a more diversified and resilient sustainable aviation fuel industry.
Ms Lee Wen Fen, Chief Sustainability Officer, Singapore Airlines, said: “Supporting the development and adoption of SAF, and securing future supplies, are integral to SIA’s ambition of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. As the first airline to purchase SAF from Project Beacon, SIA is demonstrating demand for new lower-carbon fuel production pathways in Singapore. We will continue to work with partners globally to scale SAF production, strengthen the aviation industry’s sustainability ecosystem, and support the transition to more sustainable air travel.”
Mr Conor Madigan, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Aether Fuels, said: “When we signed our MOU with Singapore Airlines last year, Project Beacon had not yet been announced. Since then, we have selected Singapore as the home of our first commercial facility and built critical partnerships across the local value chain. Singapore is building a strong ecosystem for aviation decarbonisation through refining and aviation infrastructure, investment support, sustainability policies, and utilising their position as a global aviation hub. This binding agreement is an important next step and a strong signal of committed demand from a leading global airline – exactly the type of collaboration needed to create the commercial conditions to bring new SAF pathways to scale.”
