Abu Dhabi is launching a feasibility study that could lead to the region’s first commercial production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using municipal solid waste and renewable hydrogen.
Masdar, ADNOC, bp and Tadweer (Abu Dhabi Waste Management Company), alongside Etihad Airways have reached an agreement at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2023 to conduct a joint feasibility study. Apart from sustainable aviation fuel, other products such as renewable diesel and naphtha could also be produced during the process.
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Developing sustainable aviation fuel
The study will leverage the capabilities of the five partners to evaluate the technical and commercial viability of such a project. If the conclusions are positive, the partners will target working toward developing the region’s first commercial-scale production capacity in the UAE capital.
According to an International Air Transport Association (IATA) study, sustainable aviation fuel has the potential to reduce lifecycle carbon emissions on average by up to 80 percent during its full lifecycle compared to conventional jet fuel. It is produced from sustainable feedstocks, such as municipal solid waste and renewable hydrogen.
Aviation is a key industry in the UAE, supporting over 13 percent of the national gross domestic product according to IATA economic data and is set to continue to grow in the next decades.
In alignment with its Net Zero by 2050 initiative, the UAE wants that growth to be sustainable. Sustainable aviation fuel is currently the most viable proposition to help decarbonise the industry and has a large potential to supply international markets.
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