Masdar, TotalEnergies to explore green hydrogen to sustainable aviation fuel project in UAE

Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) has signed an agreement with TotalEnergies to assess the feasibility of developing a commercial green hydrogen to methanol to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) project in the UAE.

In December last year, both companies conducted a successful test flight during COP28, showcasing the potential of converting methanol to SAF. The proposed project aims to capture and utilize CO2 from an industrial source as feedstock, along with green hydrogen produced through renewable energy-powered electrolysis. This will be used to produce green methanol and SAF for the aviation and maritime industries.

The UAE’s General Policy for Sustainable Aviation Fuel has set a voluntary target of supplying 1 per cent of fuel to national airlines using locally produced SAF by 2031. The policy also aims to establish a national regulatory framework for SAF to support the long-term economic operation of SAF facilities.

The agreement aligns with Abu Dhabi’s Low Carbon Hydrogen Policy and the UAE National Hydrogen Strategy, which seeks to position the country as a leading global producer of low-carbon hydrogen by 2031. The strategy will help accelerate the global hydrogen economy and scale up local hydrogen production to 1.4 million tons per annum (mtpa) by 2031, 7.5 mtpa by 2040, and 15 mtpa by 2050. Local demand for low-carbon hydrogen is forecasted to reach 2.7 mtpa by 2031.

The National Hydrogen Strategy drives the UAE’s investments in clean energy and supports global environmental sustainability efforts, aligning with its role as the host of the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28). It is crucial for meeting the country’s commitment to net zero by 2050 and the Paris Agreement, and will help reduce emissions in hard-to-abate sectors by 25 per cent by 2031 and 100 per cent by 2050.