Abu Dhabi: Masdar and Tadweer Group have signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to advance the first commercial-scale Waste-to-Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) project in Abu Dhabi, reports Zawya.com.
The plant, to be built in Abu Dhabi, will convert about 500,000 tonnes of waste each year into SAF. It will use a hybrid production system that combines renewable energy-powered electrolysis to create green hydrogen and waste gasification to produce syngas, which will then be turned into SAF through established chemical processes.
Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, said, “Masdar is focused on speeding up the global clean energy shift through partnerships and by offering practical solutions that meet customer needs.” He added that the project will strengthen the UAE’s role in sustainable aviation and support the growth of a sector central to the country’s economic progress, while helping cut emissions.
Ali Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Tadweer Group, said, “This agreement is an important milestone in our efforts to use waste as a valuable resource that can be turned into essential energy products. By working with Masdar, we are helping the UAE lead in clean energy innovation by converting waste into SAF, which is vital for a cleaner environment.”
Once operational, the project will serve multiple markets, helping position Abu Dhabi as a regional centre for SAF production. It will also support emission reductions in a sector that made up more than 18 percent of the UAE’s GDP in 2023, according to IATA.
IATA estimates that SAF can cut lifecycle carbon emissions by up to 80 percent compared with traditional jet fuel.
The project supports several national priorities, including the UAE’s General Policy for SAF, Abu Dhabi’s Low-Carbon Hydrogen Policy, the National Hydrogen Strategy, the Abu Dhabi Climate Change Strategy, and the UAE Net Zero by 2050 goal.
By turning waste into clean energy, the project will also help Tadweer Group move toward its target of diverting 80 percent of Abu Dhabi’s waste from landfills by 2030, while creating new value chains in waste management, green hydrogen, and renewable fuels.
With Masdar’s deep experience in renewable energy and hydrogen, and Tadweer Group’s work in converting waste into useful products through various partnerships, the project will further strengthen the UAE’s position as a leader in clean energy innovation.
The initiative also supports Abu Dhabi’s broader goal of becoming a global hub for low-carbon fuel production by linking renewable energy, waste conversion, and sustainable transport.
