TOTALENERGIES AND MASDAR DEMONSTRATE METHANOL-TO-SAF PATHWAY WITH SUCCESSFUL TEST FLIGHT

The first test flight to demonstrate the potential for converting Methanol to SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) took place in Dubai on the sidelines of COP28 in the UAE. Masdar, TotalEnergies, the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority, Airbus, Falcon Aviation Services and technology licensor Axens all contributed to the successful flight.

The Alcohol-to-Jet Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene pathway (ATJ-SPK) was certified in 2016 as meeting international standards for jet fuel, however, Methanol is not in the list of specified alcohols.

With the potential to be derived from renewable electricity, the new pathway could lead to eSAF, an essential lever to meet the challenge of producing SAF worldwide to decarbonize aviation.