Masdar and TotalEnergies launch green hydrogen project in UAE

Masdar, the UAE’s leading clean energy company, has entered into an agreement with TotalEnergies to explore the development of a commercial project focused on converting green hydrogen into methanol and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This initiative aims to reduce emissions in the aviation and maritime industries, which are traditionally difficult to decarbonise.

The project will utilise CO2 captured from industrial sources as a feedstock, along with green hydrogen produced through renewable energy-powered electrolysis, to generate green methanol and SAF. This collaboration follows a successful test flight during COP28 in December 2023, which demonstrated the viability of converting methanol into SAF.

Masdar has been actively engaging in strategic partnerships to advance the SAF sector, aligning with the UAE’s General Policy for Sustainable Aviation Fuel. This policy sets a voluntary target of supplying 1% of fuel to national airlines with locally produced SAF by 2031. The partnership also supports Abu Dhabi’s Low Carbon Hydrogen Policy, promoting low-carbon hydrogen as a key energy source for sustainable growth and energy security.

The agreement is part of Masdar’s broader mandate to expand its renewable energy capacity to 100 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 and establish itself as a leading producer of green hydrogen. TotalEnergies’ expertise in energy production and distribution complements Masdar’s initiatives, promising a transformative impact on the aviation industry’s carbon footprint.