Masdar, TotalEnergies expand efforts to decarbonise aviation

UAE-based renewables developer Masdar and French energy major TotalEnergies SE (EPA:TTE) have joined forces to explore the viability of making sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from methanol and green hydrogen in Abu Dhabi.

Through an electrolysis process powered by renewable energy, the partners will look to produce green hydrogen and methanol and then convert it to SAF. The initiative is aimed to be implemented on a commercial-scale basis, if feasible, Masdar said on Thursday.

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The goal of the project is to decarbonise hard to abate, emission intensive sectors, such as the aviation and maritime industries. Apart from SAF, the plan envisages capturing and using carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from an industrial source and using them as feedstock.

The agreement between Masdar and TotalEnergies follows a successful test flight they conducted during the during COP28 summit at end-2023 to demonstrate the potential for converting methanol to SAF.