Singapore. 17 February 2022. Mainboard-listed SIA Engineering Company Limited (“SIAEC”) is pleased to announce the successful trial using sustainable aviation fuel (“SAF”) to perform engine tests at its engine test facility.
The trial, which was conducted with SIAEC’s joint venture with Rolls-Royce, Singapore Aero Engine Services Private Limited (“SAESL”), set out to test SIAEC’s infrastructure and operational readiness, as well as the logistics, to use blended SAF for its test cell, which is a facility to conduct performance checks on an aircraft engine after maintenance. The engine tests were conducted on a Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine, which is used to power the A380 aircraft, using 38% blended SAF. The blended SAF for the engine tests produced 32% lower carbon emissions compared to conventional fossil jet fuel. The engine test facility itself also taps renewable energy to power its operations, with over 500 solar panels installed on its roof generating approximately 260 MWh of solar electricity annually.
The trial paves the way for more engine tests to be performed using SAF when the adoption of SAF scales up in the future. This initiative, together with existing offerings such as the provision of Ground Support Assisted Transit (“GSAT”) services to reduce usage of aircraft auxiliary power units, will position SIAEC as a sustainability-centric maintenance, repair and overhaul (“MRO”) service provider.
Mr Ng Chin Hwee, SIAEC Chief Executive Officer, said: “As SIAEC grows its engine services business, we recognize the importance of mitigating potential impact to the environment. The successful trial using blended SAF at our engine test facility marks SIAEC’s capability and readiness to support the aviation industry towards the net zero carbon emissions goal. We are proud to expand our extensive suite of MRO services to offer additional emissions-reducing services to our customers.”
Mr Dominic Horwood, Services Director of Civil Aerospace, Rolls-Royce, said: “Decarbonising complex, critical aviation systems requires deep collaboration amongst sector players, and Rolls-Royce is pleased to support the SAF trial by SIAEC and SAESL. The successful testing of blended SAF on our Trent 900 engine by SIAEC is an important milestone in accelerating the adoption of SAF in MRO services across the Asia-Pacific region, enabling our partners and customers in the transition to low-carbon aviation. This activity also aligns with our wider work to prepare our global MRO network for the increased adoption of SAF by our customers in the coming years.”
