ClassNK strengthens alcohol fuel safety with updated comprehensive guidelines

Purpose of the revision

Growing interest in methanol and ethanol propulsion led ClassNK to release Edition three point zero point one of its Part A Guidelines. The update compiles lessons from recent design reviews and

answers frequent yard inquiries, giving naval architects a sharper understanding of installation controls safety devices and survey documentation.

What designers will notice

The new text delivers clear examples for vent pipe arrangements, double barrier fuel lines and automatic shutdown logic. By turning grey areas into specific numerical targets, the society simplifies communication between shipowner equipment maker and flag administration. Among the practical additions is a consolidated checklist that aligns class surveys with International Code on Safety for Ships Using Alternative Fuels, reducing paperwork during plan approval.

Non-obvious insight

Because the guidelines map each risk mitigation measure to a cost estimate template, finance teams can now integrate safety spending earlier in project models. This small structural change could shorten loan syndication timelines for alternative fuel projects by several months, unlocking lower interest margins.

Looking ahead

Edition three point zero point one anticipates forthcoming IMO discussions scheduled for September twenty twenty six. ClassNK plans to monitor the debate and issue supplementary notes as decisions emerge, easing future compliance for builders and operators. The document is available for free download through the ClassNK portal, reinforcing the society commitment to open knowledge sharing.

Conclusion

By translating complex requirements into plain language examples, ClassNK accelerates the shift toward cleaner alcohol fuels while keeping crews ships and oceans safe. The guidance equips stakeholders with predictable rules and financial clarity, creating confidence for the next wave of sustainable tonnage.

Source – Hellenic Shipping News

EU Parliament Sets Ninety Percent Emissions Cut Target for 2040

Raising the Bar for Climate Action

The European Parliament has adopted a legally binding objective to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by ninety percent from 1990 levels by the year 2040. The vote establishes one of the most forward looking interim milestones globally and provides a clear bridge between the current Fit for Fifty Five agenda and the ultimate 2050 climate neutrality vision. Supporters emphasise that codifying the goal now offers certainty in advance of COP30 negotiations.

Flexibility Through Quality Carbon Credits

Member states may meet up to five percent of the target through foreign carbon credits, provided those credits satisfy rigorous European standards for additionality, permanence, and verification. This limited flexibility balances scientific advice with economic pragmatism. By setting a cap, lawmakers encourage deep domestic transformation while still enabling industries to leverage high integrity projects that protect forests, restore ecosystems, or deploy carbon capture in emerging economies.

What the Decision Means for Business

Companies can expect tighter sectoral pathways to be negotiated over the next two years covering power, manufacturing, transport, buildings, and agriculture. Carbon prices within the Emissions Trading System are likely to stay strong, reinforcing the business case for electrification, clean hydrogen, and circular material strategies. Investors will be watching for alignment with the forthcoming Carbon Removal Certification Framework, which could open new revenue channels for negative emission technologies.

Hidden Advantage: Defence Spending Synergy

Increased defence budgets across the bloc are driving accelerated research in advanced materials and energy storage for military applications. Many of these innovations, once proven, can translate directly into civilian decarbonisation solutions. The 2040 target therefore encourages a productive exchange between security focused research and sustainable industry development.

Conclusion

By locking in a high ambition target yet allowing measured flexibility, the European Union demonstrates confidence that economic competitiveness and environmental stewardship can advance together. The next phase will transform this headline goal into concrete sectoral roadmaps that guide investment for decades.

Source – ESG News

A Closer Look at Singapore’s 2026 SAF Levy Structure

A Clear Step Toward Lower Carbon Aviation

Singapore has confirmed that a sustainable aviation fuel levy will come into effect from April 2026. This initiative shows a growing international effort to reshape aviation with lower carbon solutions while keeping the transition practical for passengers and operators.

How the Levy Will Be Applied

The levy will be collected by airlines for all flights departing Singapore beginning April 2026. It covers passengers in all travel cabins as well as cargo movements and general and business aviation flights. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore has created four regional bands so that the amount collected reflects distance travelled and cabin type.

Band I includes Southeast Asia. Band II covers Northeast Asia South Asia Australia and Papua New Guinea. Band III includes Africa Central and West Asia Europe the Middle East Pacific Islands and New Zealand. Band IV covers the Americas and carries the highest rates.

For economy passengers the levy ranges from one Singapore dollar for Band I to ten point four Singapore dollars for Band IV. Premium cabin rates are higher in each band. The authority noted that these numbers are lower than earlier estimates due to reduced sustainable fuel costs.

Cargo flights follow a similar geographic structure with per kilogram charges set between zero point zero one and zero point one five Singapore dollars.

Exemptions and Use of Funds

Training flights and missions for humanitarian or charitable purposes will not be charged the levy. All collected funds will flow into the SAF Fund which will be used only to buy sustainable aviation fuel or environmental attributes linked to SAF.

Why This Matters

This move highlights a shift toward practical sustainability where every aviation user contributes in a manageable way. Independent sustainability advisors can help industry players prepare for cost planning transparent communication and long term transition strategies.

Conclusion

Singapore’s SAF levy represents a thoughtful and structured start to mainstream use of cleaner aviation fuels. It offers clarity for passengers and operators while supporting steady movement toward a lower carbon global air transport system.

Source

LanzaJet Proves Commercial Ethanol to Jet Fuel Production at Freedom Pines

A Milestone Fifteen Years in the Making

LanzaJet has achieved a historic first by operating its Freedom Pines Fuels facility in Soperton, Georgia, to full production of specification compliant jet fuel derived from ethanol. The success crowns fifteen years of research, scale up, and partnership among farmers, technologists, airlines, and investors, demonstrating that innovation perseverance can unlock entirely new fuel markets.

How the Alcohol to Jet Process Works

The facility employs LanzaJet proprietary Alcohol to Jet technology, combining Technip Energies Hummingbird reactor and an oligomerisation unit developed with the United States Department of Energy. In simple terms, ethanol is dehydrated to ethylene, then joined into longer hydrocarbon chains that are finally refined into jet range fuel. Because the input ethanol can come from agricultural residues, municipal waste, or captured carbon, the concept is adaptable to many countries with established ethanol industries.

Economic and Environmental Upside

During construction, more than three hundred workers contributed to the site, and ongoing operations create over sixty quality jobs. Once blended, the resulting sustainable aviation fuel can reduce life cycle emissions by up to eighty percent compared with conventional jet fuel, supporting airline decarbonisation commitments without requiring aircraft modifications. Moreover, the project illustrates how rural economies can capture new revenue by supplying low cost feedstock.

Hidden Advantage: Infrastructure Compatibility

Because the fuel meets ASTM jet specifications, it can be transported through current pipelines and stored in existing airport tanks. This compatibility eliminates the need for large upfront investment in dedicated infrastructure, shortening the timeline for widespread adoption and offering investors a quicker route to returns.

Conclusion

Freedom Pines stands as a practical blueprint for scaling sustainable aviation fuel worldwide. By proving ethanol to jet conversion at commercial volume, LanzaJet has opened the door for rapid replication, enhanced energy sovereignty, and meaningful progress toward climate aligned flight.

Source – PR Newswire

Negotiations Set to Streamline EU UK Agri Food Trade and Carbon Markets

A Fresh Chapter in Cooperation

The Council has authorised the European Commission to begin talks with the United Kingdom on two breakthrough agreements. One focuses on a common sanitary and phytosanitary area, the other on linking the emissions trading systems. They build on the May summit pledge to deepen cooperation and show how constructive dialogue can quickly turn into practical benefits for farmers, factories, logistics professionals, and consumers.

Simplifying Agri Food Movements

Aligning sanitary and phytosanitary rules removes duplicate inspections, long queues, and stacks of forms. Producers will prepare a single digital certificate recognised on either side of the Channel. For temperature sensitive cargo such as seafood, this could save hours per journey and extend shelf life in supermarkets. Northern Ireland gains certainty by retaining seamless access to both markets.

Unlocking Joint Carbon Markets

A linked carbon market will let allowances issued in London be surrendered in Madrid and vice versa. Besides greater flexibility, the approach safeguards competitiveness by neutralising carbon leakage and granting mutual exemptions under each side CBAM. Negotiators plan to include electricity, heavy manufacturing, aviation, and maritime operations from day one and add more sectors later through a transparent review process.

Benefits for Business and Consumers

Streamlined trade and coordinated climate policy can free working capital, encourage investment, and lower logistics costs. Smaller exporters, often most affected by administrative hurdles, stand to gain the largest relative advantage. Consumers will see fresher produce and an expanded choice of low carbon goods on shop shelves.

Hidden Advantage: Data Synergy

Because both agreements require real time reporting, the same data infrastructure will serve customs officers, veterinarians, and carbon registries. Uniform metadata will simplify integration with artificial

intelligence tools that optimise routing, forecast demand, and price carbon, turning compliance files into actionable knowledge for entrepreneurs.

Conclusion

Negotiations are poised to translate shared values into operational efficiency and greener growth. If talks progress at the planned pace, businesses could experience positive effects well before the decade ends.

Source – Council of the EU

ReFuelEU REGULATION DOCUMENT UPDATE: ReFuelEU Aviation Template for Aircraft Operators

A Clearer Path for Aircraft Operators

The newest version of the ReFuelEU Aviation Template for Aircraft Operators has been released, bringing more structure and clarity to how Sustainable Aviation Fuel reporting should be managed. This update, published on 12 Nov 2025, offers operators a more streamlined approach to meeting the growing expectations around sustainability in air transport.

What Has Changed in Version 2

Improved Structure for Reporting

The revised template focuses on making data entry simpler and more precise. It guides operators through key information points such as yearly fuel consumption, sustainable fuel uptake, and compliance actions. Each section now encourages operators to present their data with better consistency, allowing authorities to review submissions with greater confidence.

Enhanced Clarity for Compliance

The update also supports operators in understanding how their inputs align with upcoming requirements. Clearer fields and improved validation instructions mean fewer uncertainties during preparation. This version reflects broader industry feedback gathered over the past year and addresses common challenges that operators previously faced.

Why This Update Matters

A Step Toward More Transparent Sustainability Efforts

Aviation continues to move toward higher accountability in environmental performance. With a stronger template, operators can express their progress more accurately. The update also nudges the sector toward a more data driven approach to sustainability, creating a smoother bridge between operational realities and regulatory expectations.

Subtle Opportunity for Strategic Alignment

Beyond compliance, this template encourages internal reflection. Operators can use the reporting process to better track their own sustainability progress, identify gaps, and plan long term improvements. It creates a natural point of alignment between operational teams and sustainability leaders, making future planning more efficient.

Conclusion

The release of Version 2 of the ReFuelEU Aviation Template marks an important moment in the ongoing evolution of aviation sustainability reporting. By offering clearer guidance and easier navigation, it helps operators prepare for a future shaped by transparent and reliable fuel reporting. This update supports a more confident and structured approach to meeting sustainability goals across the sector.

Download Document File Here: ReFuelEU Aviation Template for Aircraft Operators

ReFuelEU REGULATION DOCUMENT UPDATE: ReFuelEU Aviation Monitoring Plan Template

The latest publication of the ReFuelEU Aviation Monitoring Plan Template marks an important step toward clearer and more efficient sustainability reporting in the aviation sector. Released in November 2025, this document offers practical guidance for aircraft operators as they prepare for new reporting obligations under the ReFuelEU Aviation framework.

Understanding the New Monitoring Plan Template

The monitoring plan template serves as an optional but valuable resource for operators who want to organise their internal fuel monitoring processes with clarity and structure. It guides users through the key steps required to meet upcoming reporting expectations and helps verification bodies and authorities review submitted data with greater confidence.

By offering a consistent approach, the template encourages transparency and reduces the likelihood of errors that could lead to delays during audits.

The Role of the Fuel Monitoring Tool

To further support industry readiness, EASA has introduced the Fuel Monitoring Tool. This recommended tool enables operators to track fuel use and prepare their data for reporting with greater ease. It also assists verifiers as they assess the completeness and accuracy of submissions.

While the tool is recommended, EASA has ensured flexibility by allowing users to adapt it according to their operational needs. This adaptability supports a broad range of operators including those with complex route networks or unique data management systems.

A Step Forward for Sustainable Aviation

The introduction of these resources reflects a growing commitment to harmonised reporting practices across Europe. It also helps organisations strengthen their internal sustainability processes in a manner that is both practical and future ready. For professionals focused on long term environmental progress within aviation, this update offers an encouraging signal about the sector wide shift toward more consistent and verifiable emissions data practices.

Conclusion

The ReFuelEU Aviation Monitoring Plan Template and the Fuel Monitoring Tool together represent meaningful progress toward smoother compliance and more reliable sustainability reporting. They offer simple guidance that supports accuracy, transparency and readiness for evolving regulatory expectations across the aviation sector.

Download Document File Here: ReFuelEU Aviation Monitoring Plan Template

ReFuelEU REGULATION DOCUMENT UPDATE: ReFuelEU Aviation Manual for Aircraft Operators and Verification Bodies

A Clear Step Toward Sustainable Air Travel

Europe is moving forward with a structured approach to cleaner aviation through the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation. The manual for aviation operators and verifiers offers practical guidance on how the sector can adopt sustainable aviation fuel in a progressive and traceable way. It marks an important step in giving the industry predictable rules and simplifying compliance.

What This Means for Operators

Transparent Fuel Requirements

The regulation sets rising minimum shares of sustainable aviation fuel in jet fuel over the coming years. The document explains how operators can calculate these shares using clear formulas and reporting formats. By giving straightforward examples and templates, the manual makes it easier for organisations to apply the rules consistently.

Strong Focus on Accuracy

The manual also highlights how each calculation must be supported by evidence. It specifies how data must be verified, how fuel deliveries must be tracked, and how sustainability claims must be proven. This creates trust among airports, fuel providers, and the wider industry.

Why This Matters for the Sector

The framework encourages long term planning and smoother supply chain engagement. By creating clarity for fuel producers and airlines, the regulation helps build confidence in the emerging sustainable aviation fuel market. This is essential for scaling supply and reducing long term climate impact.

Professionals across the sustainability space may find deeper value in how the manual balances flexibility with accountability. It gives room for innovation while ensuring that environmental benefits are real and measurable.

Conclusion

The ReFuelEU Aviation Manual presents a practical guide that brings structure and transparency to the shift toward cleaner aviation. It supports informed decision making and encourages organisations to align early with the growing expectations around sustainable aviation fuels.

Download Document File Here: ReFuelEU Aviation Manual for Aircraft Operators and Verification Bodies

ReFuelEU REGULATION DOCUMENT UPDATE: ReFuelEU Aviation Fuel Monitoring Tool

A new monitoring framework for sustainable aviation fuel use has been released, offering a clearer path for airlines and airport operators as they prepare for rising sustainability requirements. The updated structure simplifies data collection and improves consistency across reporting practices. This creates a smoother experience for aviation teams that are working to understand their environmental impact and plan future improvements.

Why This Monitoring Approach Matters

The tool brings together multiple data points in a single organised system. It supports tracking of fuel uplift, reporting on sustainable fuel usage, and identifying gaps in data early in the process. These elements help aviation stakeholders reflect on their current performance with greater accuracy.

The format also reduces confusion linked to technical calculations. Instead of requiring separate models, the monitoring tool guides users step by step. It ensures that essential information about fuel supply and consumption is captured in a clean and structured manner. This more reliable approach supports long term climate planning across the sector.

From the perspective of sustainability specialists, tools like this help create transparency. Consultants who advise transport organisations can use the insights generated to highlight patterns and show where improvements are most achievable. This creates opportunities for strategic alignment between operators and the wider sustainability community.

Benefits for Airlines and Airports

Early identification of gaps

The structure allows users to find incomplete entries quickly. This helps avoid delays during audits or compliance reviews.

A consistent reporting model

The unified format reduces the risk of errors during submissions and streamlines communication with regulators.

Clarity for future planning

By comparing data year on year, organisations gain a clearer sense of progress and emerging opportunities for cleaner operations.

Conclusion

The new monitoring framework provides a practical foundation for understanding sustainable fuel use within aviation. It strengthens the connection between operational data and environmental goals and supports professionals who guide the sector toward cleaner and more responsible growth.

Download Document File Here: ReFuelEU Aviation Fuel Monitoring Tool

CORSIA REGULATORY DOCUMENT UPDATE: CORSIA Central Registry- Information and Data for Transparency – Part IV

A Step Toward Clearer Climate Action

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has released the latest installment of its transparency series, spotlighting CORSIA Eligible Fuels (CEF) under the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation. This document captures the growing maturity of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) reporting, emphasizing accountability and openness in how airlines offset carbon.

Key Highlights from the Report

The report lists detailed submissions from member states through the CORSIA Central Registry, including the production year, producers, feedstocks, and emissions data for verified fuels. A notable example comes from Singapore, where Neste Singapore Pte Ltd produced Jet-A1 fuel derived from used cooking oil through a Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) process.

This batch achieved an impressive life cycle emission value of just 14 gCO₂e/MJ, a clear signal that technology and innovation are narrowing aviation’s carbon gap.

Why Transparency Matters

By publishing such granular data, ICAO reinforces a global culture of traceability in climate reporting. It ensures that the carbon reductions claimed by airlines are grounded in verifiable facts. This level of transparency also empowers regulators, industry leaders, and sustainability consultants to align more confidently with future-ready decarbonization pathways.

The Bigger Picture

The move reflects a wider momentum across the aviation sector: the steady transition from ambition to evidence. It highlights that cleaner skies will rely not just on new fuels, but on shared trust in how those fuels are measured, certified, and communicated.

Conclusion

ICAO’s latest transparency report is more than a compliance update; it is a statement of intent. It demonstrates that credible data and collaboration remain at the heart of a sustainable aviation future, where every verified litre of SAF brings us closer to a resilient, low-carbon air transport system.

Download Document File Here: CORSIA Central Registry- Information and Data for Transparency – Part IV