In a development at the 3rd ICAO Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3), the United Arab Emirates has announced the inception of the Air-CRAFT initiative. This initiative, formally known as the UAE Centre for Renewable and Advanced Fuel Technologies for Aviation, is dedicated to the research and development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) technologies.
Consortium Framework and Objectives
The Air-CRAFT initiative is a collaborative effort that includes a wide range of participants such as industrial policymakers, aviation regulators, fuel producers, academia, aircraft manufacturers and airline operators. While the initiative is based in the UAE, it extends an invitation to relevant international parties for collaboration.
His Excellency Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, highlighted the project’s importance for the UAE’s decarbonization strategy. He remarked, “The aviation sector is vital for our GDP and our decarbonization initiatives. Air-CRAFT will significantly aid in the reduction of aviation sector emissions, contributing to its sustainability and resilience.”
This initiative supports the objectives outlined in the UAE’s National SAF Roadmap and the broader aim of the aviation industry to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. It has also garnered support from the U.S. government, linking it to the collaborative US-UAE Partnership to Accelerate Transition to Clean Energy (PACE) agreement.
These leaders emphasized the importance of collaboration, innovation, and commitment to sustainability in the aviation sector. They highlighted the role of Air-CRAFT in advancing the UAE’s National SAF Roadmap and its alignment with each entity’s strategic objectives. The collective sentiment was one of pride and anticipation for the positive impact that Air-CRAFT is expected to make in the pursuit of decarbonizing aviation.
The UAE is at the forefront of global energy leadership, actively working towards the decarbonization of its economy. As the first country in the Gulf region to commit to the Paris Agreement and the first in the Middle East and North Africa to aim for net zero emissions by 2050, the UAE is a pioneer in sustainability efforts. The nation is also preparing to host COP28.
The Critical Role of SAF in Aviation’s Future
SAF is recognized as the most significant factor in the aviation industry’s journey towards decarbonization. Despite its importance, the supply of SAF is currently limited and needs rapid expansion to meet the industry’s goals. The National SAF Roadmap of the UAE lays out five principles to expedite the decarbonization of the aviation sector and establish the region as a hub for alternative aviation fuels.
1. Establishing the Ambition: 700 million liters of SAF by 2030
2. Accelerating SAF Technology Deployment and Innovation
3. Developing the National Regulatory Environment for SAF
4. Building Local Capacity to Boost In-Country Value
5. Leading International Collaboration
