The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is working with airport stakeholders to conduct trials on the use of renewable diesel for heavy and specialized airside vehicles operating at Singapore Changi Airport, as part of its larger effort to decarbonize the Singapore aviation sector.
The trials will help Singapore develop the supply chain and procurement processes for using renewable diesel at Changi Airport and evaluate renewable diesel’s operating performance vis-à-vis conventional fossil diesel, including the requirements and frequencies of vehicular and equipment maintenance. The trials will involve all key stakeholders operating specialised vehicles and ground support equipment at Changi Airport, including Changi Airport Group (CAG), dnata, SATS and SIA Engineering Company (SIAEC), which will work together as a community and exchange learning points.
The trials are expected to last one year and will inform deliberation on the future adoption of renewable diesel to power the heavy and specialized airside vehicle types for which there are no or few viable electric options. The trials are eligible for funding support from CAAS under the Aviation Sustainability Programme to help companies defray the cost of using renewable diesel which can be up to three times more expensive than fossil diesel, and the cost of emissions testing and logistical support, CAAS said in a statement.
CAAS has identified the transition to cleaner energy for airside vehicles as a key initiative under the Singapore Sustainable Air Hub Blueprint which was published in February 2024. Cleaner energy transition for airside vehicles is to be achieved through three main pathways: electrification, the use of biofuels, and exploring the use of hydrogen-powered airside vehicles. While electrification, given its maturity and the wide availability of viable electric vehicle variants, is the main cleaner energy pathway especially for light vehicles such as cars and vans, many of the over 1,800 heavy and specialised vehicles and ground support equipment at Changi Airport airside have few viable electric options. A key near-term decarbonisation pathway for such vehicles is the use of biofuels, and in particular renewable diesel.
Renewable diesel has up to 95% lower lifecycle carbon emissions compared to conventional fossil diesel. It can be used as a “drop in” replacement in existing diesel engines without modification, and tap the existing transportation, storage, and distribution infrastructure for diesel, with minimal adjustments. It can also be blended with fossil diesel in any proportion, allowing companies to calibrate their investments in cleaner energy according to their decarbonisation goals.
These renewable diesel trials are eligible for co-funding under the Aviation Sustainability Programme. The first to kick-start trials supported under the Programme is dnata, a ground handler at Changi Airport. On 26 April 2024, dnata commenced a six-month long trial using Esso Renewable Diesel R20 made with minimum 20% renewable content to power a range of specialised ground support equipment and vehicles including aircraft pushback tractors and transporters. CAG, SATS and SIAEC will conduct similar trials on their own equipment and for their operations over the next few months.
