Masdar, the UAE’s clean energy powerhouse, has signed an agreement with TotalEnergies to assess the viability of developing a commercial green hydrogen to methanol to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) project in Abu Dhabi. The agreement follows the two companies’ successful test flight at COP28 that demonstrated the potential for converting methanol to SAF.
The project aims to decarbonize hard-to-abate, emission-intensive sectors such as the aviation and maritime industries. Masdar revealed that the project with TotalEnergies will also capture and utilize CO2 from an industrial source for feedstock. Moreover, it will utilize green hydrogen from renewable energy-powered electrolysis for the production of green methanol and SAF.
In the last three years, Masdar has forged a number of strategic partnerships designed to support the development and growth of the SAF sector. In October, Masdar and Boeing partnered to help advance the SAF industry in the UAE and globally.
Promoting SAF use and production
The Masdar and TotalEnergies’ agreement falls in line with the UAE’s General Policy for Sustainable Aviation Fuel, which set a voluntary target of providing 1 percent of fuel supplied to national airlines at UAE airports using locally produced SAF by 2031. The policy also seeks to develop a national regulatory framework for SAF by exploring potential policies to support the long-term economic operation of SAF facilities in the UAE.
The Masdar and TotalEnergies agreement also aligns with Abu Dhabi’s Low Carbon Hydrogen Policy, which aims to contribute to promoting low-carbon hydrogen as a future energy source. This transition will mark a significant milestone towards ensuring economic growth, sustainability, and energy security and a strategic step towards a sustainable future.
Masdar to become leading producer of green hydrogen
Since its establishment in 2006, Masdar has been a key enabler of the UAE’s vision as a global leader in sustainability and climate action. The company has developed and partnered in projects in over 40 countries, with a mandate to increase its renewable energy portfolio capacity to 100GW by 2030 and become a leading producer of green hydrogen.
The aviation sector is currently responsible for about 2 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. The International Air Transport Association expects SAF to contribute to about 65 percent of the reduction in emissions needed by the aviation industry to reach its target of achieving net zero by 2050.
For its part, the UAE aims to achieve hydrogen production of 1.4 million tons annually by 2031. Moreover, it aims to raise production to 15 million tons annually by 2050. In addition, the country plans to develop at least two hydrogen production plants by 2031.
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