TotalEnergies and Masdar to Establish Commercial Green Hydrogen to Methanol to SAF Initiative in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar, the UAE's leading clean energy company, has entered into an agreement with TotalEnergies to evaluate the feasibility of creating a commercial green hydrogen to methanol to SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) project.

The project's objective is to decarbonize difficult-to-abate, high-emission sectors like aviation and maritime. Additionally, it will capture CO2 from an industrial source to be used as feedstock, alongside green hydrogen produced through renewable energy-powered electrolysis, for generating green methanol and SAF.

This agreement comes after a successful test flight by the two companies during COP28 in December 2023, showcasing the potential of converting methanol to SAF.

Aviation is a primary focus for Masdar's Green Hydrogen business. Over the past three years, the company has established several strategic partnerships aimed at advancing and expanding the SAF sector.

The UAE's General Policy for Sustainable Aviation Fuel has established a voluntary goal to supply 1% of the fuel provided to national airlines at UAE airports with locally produced SAF by 2031. The policy also aims to develop a national regulatory framework for SAF by investigating potential policies to support the long-term economic viability of SAF facilities in the UAE.

The agreement aligns with Abu Dhabi’s Low Carbon Hydrogen Policy, which aims to significantly advance low-carbon hydrogen as a future energy source. This initiative represents a key milestone in promoting economic growth, sustainability, and energy security, marking a strategic step toward a sustainable future.

The Low Carbon Hydrogen Policy supports the UAE National Hydrogen Strategy, which aims to position the UAE as a top global producer of low-carbon hydrogen by 2031.

Since its inception in 2006, Masdar has been instrumental in furthering the UAE’s goal of becoming a global leader in sustainability and climate action. The company has undertaken and partnered on projects in over 40 countries, with a goal to expand its renewable energy portfolio to 100GW by 2030 and to emerge as a leading producer of green hydrogen by that same year.

Masdar is one of the world’s fastest-growing renewable energy companies and a leader in green hydrogen, positioning the UAE at the forefront of the energy transition. As a pioneer in the clean energy sector and a key advocate of the UAE’s global leadership in sustainability and climate action, Masdar has undertaken projects in over 40 countries across six continents. The company has invested or committed to invest in global projects valued at more than US$30 billion. Masdar brings together the UAE’s three energy champions—Mubadala, ADNOC, and TAQA—and will leverage their combined expertise to advance its mission as a global pioneer in clean energy and green hydrogen.