Masdar, a leading clean energy company based in Abu Dhabi, has signed an agreement with Airbus, Europe’s largest aeronautics and space company, to support the development and growth of the global sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) market.
The agreement, signed in the presence of prominent officials including His Excellency Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Chairman of Masdar and COP28 President-Designate, Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus, and Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, aims to foster collaboration in areas such as sustainable aviation fuels, green hydrogen, direct air capture technologies, and the implementation of “book and claim” solutions.
One of the key technologies highlighted in the agreement is Direct Air Capture, which enables the extraction of CO2 from the atmosphere. When combined with green hydrogen, this captured CO2 can be used to produce synthetic sustainable aviation fuel. According to Precedence Research, the use of SAF based on green hydrogen and direct air capture has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 95% compared to conventional jet fuel. The global sustainable aviation fuel market is projected to exceed US$14 billion by 2032.
Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi emphasized Masdar’s commitment to carbon emissions reduction and its dedication to driving global decarbonization efforts. He expressed eagerness to collaborate closely with Airbus to support the development of the sustainable aviation fuel market and explore low-carbon solutions in alignment with the goal of achieving net-zero emissions.
Mikail Houari, President of Airbus Africa and Middle East, acknowledged sustainable aviation fuel as a vital solution for reducing the carbon footprint of the aviation sector. He highlighted Airbus’ commitment to driving innovation and supporting the industry’s ambition of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, as set by IATA, ATAG, and ICAO. Houari also emphasized the fruitful collaboration between Airbus and the UAE, with this agreement representing another significant milestone in their partnership.
Sustainable aviation fuel offers an immediate solution for significantly reducing CO2 emissions in air transportation. It can be seamlessly integrated into existing infrastructure, aircraft, and engines without the need for modifications. Its gradual adoption worldwide is expected to play a crucial role in achieving a net-zero future for the aviation industry.
Earlier this year, during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, Masdar announced its involvement in a green hydrogen initiative aimed at producing sustainable aviation fuel from methanol. The initiative is actively working with licensors to certify a new production pathway for SAF.
Established in 2006, Masdar has become a prominent player in the clean energy sector, with a strong global presence and investments in renewable energy projects across more than 40 countries. Its portfolio of projects has a combined capacity of approximately 20 gigawatts (GW).
