Aether Fuels and Aster to build SAF plant

Project Beacon, Aether’s commercial demonstration facility, will utilise the company’s Aurora^™ technology to produce up to 50 bpd of fuel (2000 tpy of fuel). It will convert industrial waste gas and biomethane into CORSIA-certified SAF, achieving more than 70% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to conventional jet fuel, making it the first commercial facility of its kind. Project Beacon is expected to commence construction in 2026 and begin commercial operations in 2028.

Locating the plant on Pulau Bukom underscores Aster’s commitment to fostering breakthrough innovation within its asset ecosystem. Aster will provide renewable power, waste carbon feedstock, utilities, and site support to accelerate the development and commercialisation of Aether’s scalable solution.

Erwin Ciputra, Group CEO of Aster, said: “Today marks an important step forward in reducing carbon intensity and advancing new energy pathways. By bringing together Aether’s technology with the expertise of our Bukom facility, we are demonstrating how partnerships between established industrial leaders and agile innovators can catalyse the introduction of disruptive solutions on a commercial scale. This reflects Aster’s broader sustainability agenda and through Aster Ventures, we will invest in transformative technologies and next-generation energy solutions – working closely with innovators to strengthen Singapore’s role as the region’s hub for industrial renewable energy.”

Conor Madigan, Founder and CEO of Aether Fuels, said: “Singapore is a natural location for this breakthrough facility, with its world-class talent, strong innovation ecosystem, and steady support from the Economic Development Board (EDB). It is also where Aether began as a venture-build at Xora Innovation, a global deep tech venture firm backed by Temasek, making this project especially meaningful. We are particularly impressed by the expertise, openness and innovation-focus of Aster, and other regional partners, such as the Singapore Airlines Group and Sembcorp, with whom we aim to advance Singapore’s SAF industry. By building Project Beacon within Aster’s world-scale refinery, we can accelerate deployment of our Aurora solution and help position Southeast Asia as a global hub for sustainable fuels.”

Png Cheong Boon, Chairman of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), said: “This new Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) facility strengthens Singapore’s competitiveness as a hub for sustainable products and demonstrates how companies here can seamlessly collaborate to scale breakthrough innovations. We welcome more companies to partner with us in advancing sustainable solutions and low-carbon technologies, to shape the next chapter of growth for Singapore and the region.”

Project Beacon will be able to use a range of waste carbon feedstock, which is a critical enabler of next-generation SAF. While the HEFA (hydro-processed esters and fatty acids) process ignited the first wave of SAF production, feedstock limitations such as the lack of used cooking oil make it challenging to support future demand. Aether Aurora overcomes these constraints by converting a variety of abundant waste carbon feedstocks into fuel with high yields and low capital costs, making it a sustainable and scalable approach to drive the next SAF production wave.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/clean-fuels/12112025/aether-fuels-and-aster-to-build-saf-plant/