UAE’s GCAA, Volar to develop green aviation hub

The United Arab Emirates announced a major step towards supporting sustainable aviation with the country’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announcing a partnership with Volar Air Mobility to establish the nation’s first green aviation technology hub.

“We are excited to partner with the GCAA in establishing this innovative hub. Our mission is to accelerate the adoption of green aviation technologies, and this collaboration will create a centre of excellence for sustainable air mobility in the UAE,” said Henry Hool, chairman, Volato Air Mobility.

This new hub aims to foster research, development, and collaboration in sustainable aviation technologies. By promoting clean energy solutions and supporting international partnerships, the UAE seeks to become a global leader in green aviation.

“This MoU reflects our commitment to advancing sustainable aviation and supporting the UAE’s national strategy to reduce carbon emissions,” said Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, director-general, GCAA.

Earlier in August, Clean energy developer Masdar and French energy giant TotalEnergies signed an agreement to assess the viability of developing a commercial green hydrogen to methanol to SAF project in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The two firms aim to capture and utilise CO2 from an industrial source to be used as a feedstock, in addition to green hydrogen from renewable energy powered electrolysis.

Moreover, in December last year, Carbon recycling company LanzaTech signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi Waste Management Company Tadweer to explore waste-to-sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production potential.

The two partners forecast 350,000 tonnes per annum of hard-to-recycle municipal and commercial solid waste from Abu Dhabi can be transformed into 200,000 tonnes of ethanol per year, ultimately producing 120,000 tonnes of SAF annually.