Tourism UAE firms explore production of sustainable aviation fuel with BP By Reuters January 22, 2023 Etihad Airways The capacity of Middle East airlines is likely to increase by 15.9 percent in 2023, says Iata UAE renewable energy company Masdar, state oil firm Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) and oil major BP agreed to conduct a joint feasibility study on exploring the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the UAE, Masdar said in a statement. The agreement, which includes Abu Dhabi Waste Management Company (Tadweer) and Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways, would explore the production of SAF, alongside other products like renewable diesel and naphtha, using municipal solid waste and renewable hydrogen, Masdar added. “The feasibility study will leverage the capabilities of the five partners to evaluate the technical and commercial viability of such a project. If the study’s conclusions are positive, the partners will target working toward developing the region’s first commercial-scale production capacity in Abu Dhabi,” Masdar said. In May 2022, industry experts told AGBI that Adnoc’s deal to develop clean hydrogen with BP and Masdar is a “landmark agreement” that will accelerate the global transition towards a sustainable future. As part of the partnership, Adnoc and BP have advanced to the design phase of the H2Teesside low-carbon hydrogen plant, the largest blue hydrogen project in the UK. The deal is Adnoc’s first investment in Britain. The agreement also includes a joint feasibility study for a low-carbon hydrogen project in Abu Dhabi and an expanded deal between the three companies to explore the production of sustainable aviation fuels. This would use solar-to-green hydrogen and municipal waste gasification, leveraging the capabilities of the Abu Dhabi Waste Management Centre, Tadweer, and Etihad Airways.
