Aether Fuels, Aster partner on SAF demonstration project in Singapore

Photo: Aster

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) company Aether Fuels announced Nov. 11 that it has signed an agreement with petroleum refiner Aster to develop a next-generation SAF production demonstration facility in Southeast Asia at Aster Pulau Bukom in Singapore.  

Combining Aether’s gas-to-liquid technology with Aster’s expertise at its Singapore fully integrated refining and chemical hub, the commercial demonstration facility—Project Beacon—will utilize Aether’s Aurora™ technology to produce up to 50 barrels of fuel per day (2,000 tons of fuel per year).   

It will convert industrial waste gas and biomethane into CORSIA‑certified SAF, achieving more than 70 percent reduction in greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions compared to conventional jet fuel.  

According to Aether, Project Beacon is expected to begin construction in 2026 and start commercial operations in 2028. 

Aster will provide renewable power, waste-carbon feedstock, utilities and site support to accelerate development and commercialization. 

“Today marks an important step forward in reducing carbon intensity and advancing new energy pathways,” said Erwin Ciputra, group CEO of Aster. “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 catalyze 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, added, “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 EDB, said, “This new 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 the company said is a critical enabler of next-generation SAF.