TotalEnergies and Masdar collaborate on SAF pathway

French energy company TotalEnergies and Masdar, based in the UAE, have announced a collaboration to advance the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as part of their commitment to decarbonise the aviation industry. This initiative was highlighted during the launch of the Dubai Framework for Sustainable Aviation Fuel at COP28 held recently.

The partnership between TotalEnergies and Masdar aims to demonstrate the potential of methanol as a pathway to SAF. Methanol SAF is seen as a critical component in supporting the aviation industry’s decarbonisation efforts. Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, emphasised the importance of this collaboration in advancing SAF development and providing alternative solutions to reduce aviation’s carbon emissions.

Patrick Pouyanné, chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, expressed delight in initiating this scouting effort with Masdar. He highlighted the importance of working on next-generation clean aviation fuels, including e-SAF, to complement SAF currently produced from used cooking oil. TotalEnergies is committed to exploring novel pathways to jet fuel that support the aviation industry’s decarbonisation.

SAF is an immediately available solution for significantly reducing CO2 emissions in air transportation. It can be used as a drop-in fuel without modifying existing storage, refueling infrastructure, aircraft, or engines. Biojet fuel, produced from waste and residue, can reduce CO2 emissions by an average of 80% over its lifecycle. eSAF, a synthetic fuel derived from renewable energy, is compatible with jet engines and offers similar performance to fossil fuels.