The world’s aviation bodies, national governments and most airlines have signed as much as pledge net zero emissions by 2050. Many airlines have set intermediate goals to push their green credentials further, like a 50% reduction by the top of this decade, but how will they get there?
Neste is making the investments now
The allure of radically recent propulsion technologies, resembling electric, hybrid electric and hydrogen, is like sirens on the rocks, calling aviation to look over here for the answers. Within the medium term, these technologies shall be available and play their part, but for now, the one available solution to chop emissions, especially for long-haul flying, is using sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).
Photo: Neste
Airlines like to announce their first SAF mix flights and have raced one another to get that box ticked, which little doubt looks good of their ESG (environment, social and governance) reports. The problem just isn’t if SAF will cut emissions or work, we already know that, but where is it and who’s investing within the production and distribution supply chain for the choice fuel?
One company that’s making investments and nailing its colours to the SAF mast is Finland’s Neste, the world’s leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel, renewable diesel and renewable feedstock solutions. Last week Neste celebrated the opening of its €1.6 billion ($1.7 billion) Singapore Expansion project, which doubles the power’s production capability to 2.6 million tons annually, of which a million tons will be SAF.
Photo: ATR
Establishing a consistent and reliable feedstock supply is a big issue for large-volume SAF production, which Neste has addressed as a part of the Singapore expansion. It has enhanced the raw material pre-treatment capability onsite, which increases the power’s capability to process tougher waste and residue raw materials.
Neste’s decided to construct the extensions in late 2018, which in hindsight was a courageous step given all of the unknowns surrounding net zero aviation and what role SAF would play in reaching the 2050 goal. Finally week’s opening, President and CEO Matti Lehmus said the expansion marked one other essential milestone in Neste’s renewables growth strategy execution. He described its complex construction as a “remarkable achievement,” particularly because it was built during a worldwide pandemic.
“Singapore has a world-class logistics connectivity enabling efficient transportation of the renewable raw materials in addition to final products globally. Also, its world-class education supports the supply of future talents to be a component of our production and business operations, in addition to to boost our R&D in our recently established Innovation Centre.”
Constructing the SAF supply chain
The neat SAF is produced on the refinery, blended with conventional jet fuel at a mixing terminal in Singapore, after which delivered to airline customers, resembling Singapore Airlines, at Changi airport. To be able to ensure an integrated supply chain, Neste has agreed to purchase a stake within the Changi Airport Fuel Hydrant Installation Company, the fuel storage and infrastructure three way partnership on the airport.
Singapore Airlines uplifting SAF at Changi Airport with representatives from CAAS, SIA, Temasek, ExxonMobil and Neste. Photo: SIA
Executive vice chairman for Neste’s Renewable Aviation business, Sami Jauhiainen, explained:
“Singapore is a number one aviation hub within the Asia-Pacific region. Along with being a worldwide hub for Neste’s SAF production, we’ve established an integrated SAF supply chain to Changi Airport to make our product available to an increasing variety of regional and international airlines.”
Singapore Changi Airport just isn’t the one airport where Neste is constructing a reliable supply chain that delivers SAF directly into aircraft. Other airports in its current network include San Francisco International (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX), Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS), and Helsinki Airport (HEL) in Finland.
By the top of this yr, Neste’s total SAF production capability from its Rotterdam (Netherlands) and Singapore facilities shall be 1.5 million tons, increasing to 2.2 million tons by the primary half of 2026. To accumulate the supply of SAF, Neste can also be supplying it to other fuel marketing corporations outside of its own network.
What do you think that of those developments in Singapore? Tell us within the comments.