Singapore will require all outbound flights to use 1% sustainable fuel from 2026, with the target expected to rise to 3-5% by 2030.
—
Fares for all flights departing from Singapore will increase from 2026 following new requirements for the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) announced by the Ministry of Transport on Monday.
Speaking on the eve of the Singapore Air Show, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said that from 2026, at least 1% of jet fuel used on outbound flights from Changi and Seletar airports must be SAF, and that He said there are plans to increase it to %. -5% by the end of the decade, depending on fuel availability.
Chee justified the seemingly modest initial goals by arguing that setting too ambitious sustainability targets would “have a negative impact on the air hub and the economy, increasing the cost of travel for passengers.”
As a result of this goal, travelers are expected to pay higher airfares. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), passengers flying to Bangkok, Tokyo and London will have to pay an additional S$3 (US$2.23), S$6 (US$4.46) and S$16 (US$11.88) respectively. There is a possibility that it will not happen. Fares are higher for premium class passengers.
What is sustainable aviation fuel?
SAF is an alternative fuel source derived from a variety of feedstocks rather than the polluting sources such as oil, coal, and gas used to make traditional jet fuel, and reduces emissions from the aviation sector, which currently accounts for 2% of emissions. This is an important element in reducing Global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and 12% of the world’s CO2 emissions from transportation. Sources of raw materials for SAF range from edible oils and municipal waste to food waste and energy crops.
This fuel currently accounts for approximately 0.2% of global jet fuel usage and produces up to 80% of the life cycle emissions (accounting for emissions generated during the entire production of SAF) compared to traditional fossil fuels. % could be reduced. Depending on the feedstock, the use of SAF can provide additional environmental and economic benefits.
Using municipal waste as raw material is an example of circular economy principles in action. Producing SAF from waste can reduce the amount of waste decomposed in landfills, while also reducing the additional CO2 emissions emitted during the decomposition process. Using energy crops such as camelina can provide additional economic benefits to farmers. Camelina is a rotational crop that can be rotated with other crops such as wheat, so it has the potential to become a new source of income for farmers. This also reduces monoculture cultivation, which is known to affect soil health and lead to increased pest infestations.
SAF reduces dependence on fossil fuels and stabilizes the cost of aviation fuel. Compared to fossil fuels, which are limited by supply and geographic location, SAF can be obtained from multiple sources. As more SAF feedstock suppliers enter the market, the price of SAF, currently 2.5 times higher than conventional fuel, is expected to stabilize, providing airlines with a more sustainable fuel source that is less susceptible to price fluctuations. ing.
Learn more about this topic: Everything you need to know about sustainable aviation fuel
global progress
The first-ever flight using only SAF took off in 2018. Since then, its adoption has been modest compared to the industry’s overall fuel demand.
Two of the main reasons for slow adoption are limited supply and access to sustainable fuels. SAF is produced in small quantities due to limited raw materials and equipment, and its unit production costs are higher than traditional fuels. The high overall cost of SAF is a major barrier to broader use across airlines.
Many airports also do not have mechanisms in place to provide SAF to aircraft. Currently, only a few airports around the world can provide a stable supply of SAF, including Oslo, Bergen, Stockholm, and Los Angeles. Additionally, a 2023 study found that only 12 of the 32 top or busiest airports in the world show evidence of SAF in their sustainability strategies, six of them in Europe, four in There are airports in North America, one in Asia, and one in Australia. There was no one in South America or Africa.
Nevertheless, an analysis by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) shows that even though only 1% of the world’s fuel uses SAF, that is, 10% of the world’s aircraft use 10% SAF and 90% conventional It is a blend of type fuels.
Outlook
Accelerating the use of SAF in aircraft around the world requires both infrastructure development and policies that can support its widespread use, including allocating sufficient feedstock for fuel production and financing processes to scale up SAF production. .
Equally important is the investment in the infrastructure needed to facilitate accessibility.
In July 2021, the European Union (EU) proposed a new regulation called ReFuel EU aimed at leveling the playing field for SAFs across EU countries. As part of the regulation, EU airports are required to provide the necessary infrastructure for the supply and mixing of his SAF. Since then, 27 countries have introduced a minimum SAF requirement of 2% for all EU airports by 2025, rising to 6% in 2030 and 70% by mid-century.
You’ll probably also like: 4 sustainable aviation fuel companies leading the way to net-zero flight