Singapore GP pledges to halve F1 energy emissions by 2028

THE organiser of Singapore’s Formula 1 (F1) race has pledged to halve energy emissions from the annual event by 2028 through reducing energy, increasing the use of renewable-energy resources, and utilising Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) for unavoidable emissions.

On Friday (Sep 8), Singapore Grand Prix (GP) said it will use hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO) in half of the event’s power generators by 2025, and 100 per cent by 2028.

The feasibility trial to substitute diesel with renewable fuels such as HVO starts this year, it added.

Singapore GP expects the initiative to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 52 per cent when fully implemented.

The company intends to continue utilising RECs to offset remaining unavoidable emissions, following its move to purchase RECs to cover 85 per cent of its electricity consumption in the Circuit Park in 2022.

The upcoming F1 race will feature roll-out container toilets with enhanced water efficiency in the Circuit Park, which Singapore GP estimates will save some 129,600 litres of water over the three-day race weekend.

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Used cooking oil will also be collected during this year’s event. This practice recycled 8,105 kg of cooking oil into biodiesel over the last five editions, noted Singapore GP, and achieved 4,000 kg of CO2 reduction in 2022 alone.

“Singapore GP remains committed to actively involving patrons in minimising their environmental impact. It will continue to promote sustainable practices, such as utilising public transportation, and offer convenient water points to encourage patrons to bring their own reusable bottles.”

All the company’s external vendors and contracts will be required to pledge towards its environmental, social and governance commitments by 2025.

Citing data from Singapore GP’s first carbon-footprint report, it highlighted energy usage as the largest contributor to the F1 race event’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2022.

The event’s total GHG emissions for the year stood at 2,372 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, with Scope 1 and 2 emissions making up 96.1 per cent.

Scope 1, or direct emissions from fuel combustion, comprised 62.6 per cent of emissions; Scope 2 emissions, or indirect emissions from purchased electricity, heat and steam, made up 33.5 per cent. The remaining 3.9 per cent came from Scope 3 indirect emissions from upstream and downstream activities.

Singapore GP identified energy use as the area with the greatest potential for impact, and intends to gradually phase out diesel while increasing its use of low-carbon fuel alternatives.

“We have developed a roadmap that will allow us to meaningfully reduce emissions, with a distinct focus on energy use. These measures will be taken in tandem with F1’s global efforts to reach net zero by 2030,” said SGP’s director of sustainability Sasha Rafi.

Set to take place from Sep 15 to 17, Singapore’s Second Minister for Trade and Industry Dr Tan See Leng said that there would be a “slight drop” in capacity this year.

Tickets to the event were nearly sold out as at end-August.