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EU regulations risk leading to inefficient use of biomass for production of sustainable aviation fuel, according to a study from Chalmers University of Technology. Image: CC BY Gustavo Ramirez/CC0
The effects of the Iran war on the oil market have brought renewed attention to the EU’s plans for domestic production of fossil-free aviation fuels. But EU rules for synthetic aviation fuels risk steering development towards production pathways that are both more expensive and more energy-intensive than necessary – making it harder to meet climate targets. This is shown in a recent study from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, that has analysed different methods for producing synthetic methanol.
Last year, rules were introduced requiring a minimum blend of 2 percent sustainable aviation fuel at EU airports. This blending requirement will increase gradually, reaching at least 70 percent by 2050. By then, half of the sustainable aviation fuel must consist of a category known as RFNBO: Renewable Fuel of Non-Biological Origin. These are synthetic fuels, also known as electrofuels, produced from renewable hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide.
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology now show that the RFNBO rules favour a “detour” in the production of synthetic fuels, which risks increasing both costs and energy use.
“Regulations influence not only industry’s investments in technology, but also which research and development priorities are pursued. Instead of driving innovation towards the most efficient solutions, we risk locking ourselves into less resource-efficient production methods,” says Henrik Thunman, Professor of Energy Technology at Chalmers and co-author of the scientific article.
Thousands of new plants will be needed globally to meet the growing demand for sustainable aviation fuels in the coming decades. This will require very large investments in facilities with long operating lifetimes.
The research team at Chalmers has studied the production of synthetic methanol, which is an example of a fuel molecule that can be converted into sustainable aviation fuel. It provides a representative case for analysing how different production pathways affect resource use in the production of such fuel molecules.
These energy-rich molecules can be produced by combining carbon atoms and hydrogen in chemical processes. In the study, the researchers compared three different production pathways for methanol in which the carbon atoms come from biomass – so-called biogenic carbon. Two of the methods are based on biomass combustion, where carbon dioxide is captured from flue gases and then mixed with hydrogen produced separately using electricity. The third is based on gasification, where heated biomass is converted directly into synthesis gas, which contains both carbon and hydrogen.
All three production pathways are technically feasible, and both the raw material and the final product can be the same. However, they differ clearly in terms of energy use, cost and electricity demand.
“The gasification pathway proved to be the most resource-efficient option in our analysis, with up to 46 percent lower production cost and 30 percent lower electricity demand than the two combustion-based alternatives. The difference shows how large the energy losses can be when biomass is first combusted into carbon dioxide, which is then rebuilt into fuel molecules using large amounts of electricity and hydrogen,” says Johanna Beiron, researcher in Physical Resource Theory at Chalmers and first author of the article.
Despite this, combustion is favoured much more strongly than gasification by the EU regulatory framework. The RFNBO category – which is expected to expand from close to zero today to 35 percent of all aviation fuel in the EU by 2050 – includes all fuel from the combustion-based alternatives, but excludes around half of the fuel produced via gasification.
The reason is that RFNBO fuels may not be produced using energy and carbon atoms that come directly from biomass, as they largely do in gasification-based production. In contrast, it is permitted to use carbon atoms from biomass in combustion-based routes, provided this is done by capturing the carbon dioxide formed when biomass is used for other energy purposes. One example is the combustion of residual material from the forest industry in combined heat and power plants.
But such residual material can be used more resource-efficiently through gasification.
“One of the combustion-based alternatives we analysed was the process in combined heat and power plants,” says Johanna Beiron. “It has lower cost and energy efficiency than gasification, even when we include the additional electricity needed to replace, for example, the district heating that the combustion process can contribute.”
One purpose of the RFNBO classification is to stimulate increased generation of renewable electricity for the production of green hydrogen, and to reduce dependence on biomass, which is a limited resource.
But the carbon atoms for synthetic aviation fuel must come from somewhere. Biomass is expected to be the least costly fossil-free carbon source for RFNBO production, and the researchers expect that today’s regulatory framework will result in a very high demand for carbon dioxide from biomass combustion. Instead of reducing the need for biomass, the EU regulations risk driving a less energy-efficient use of the limited biomass resource.
“The regulatory framework does not account sufficiently for how efficiently different systems use energy and resources,” says Henrik Thunman. “The study therefore highlights a structural issue in EU energy and industrial policy: regulation risks working against its own objectives when definitions of sustainable fuels are not aligned with fundamental energy principles or with the Union’s broader ambitions for resource efficiency.”
The researchers hope that their results will contribute to greater knowledge about the technologies and systems that are available.
“It is surprising that EU rules do not provide clearer incentives for the most efficient alternatives,” says Johanna Beiron. “The current regulatory framework risks causing lock-in to combustion-based energy systems, even though technically mature processes already exist that would provide both lower energy use and lower cost – such as gasification and electrification of district heating.”
“Our study shows that some parts of the regulatory framework probably need to be adjusted if the EU is to achieve its long-term goals,” says Henrik Thunman. “Better coordination is needed between climate targets, resource efficiency and industrial feasibility in order to address the uncertainty that currently exists. This uncertainty makes it difficult to make rational investment decisions for the large-scale expansion of sustainable aviation fuels in the coming years.”
DREAM OF THE DESERT ESTABLISHES RIYADH HEADQUARTERS, MARKING ENTRY INTO DELIVERY PHASE
Permanent Riyadh headquarters anchors project within Saudi Arabia’s tourism and transport ecosystem
Raffaele Breschi appointed General Manager of Dream of the Desert and CEO of Arsenale International, reinforcing operational momentum ahead of 2026 launch
Collaboration with national entities accelerates development and destination activation across Saudi Arabia
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – 14, 2026: Dream of the Desert, Saudi Arabia’s first ultra-luxury train by Arsenale Group, marked a major development milestone with the opening of its headquarters in Riyadh and the appointment of Raffaele Breschi as General Manager of Dream of the Desert and CEO of Arsenale International. This step marks the next phase of the project’s delivery in the country, reinforcing its central role in Saudi Arabia’s tourism transformation as it advances toward its 2026 debut.
The establishment of a permanent base in Riyadh anchors the project firmly within Saudi Arabia’s tourism and transport ecosystem and marks Arsenale’s first international headquarters, underscoring a long-term, on-the-ground commitment beyond project development.
Operating from Saudi Arabia’s capital, the project team will work closely with national stakeholders – including the Ministry of Culture (MOC); the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services, with Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR), and the Transport General Authority (TGA); and the Ministry of Tourism, with Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), and the Tourism Development Fund (TDF), the national enabler of Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector, to ensure operational readiness and activate cultural and touristic destinations along the route ahead of the inaugural journeys scheduled for the end of 2026.
As the project advances toward launch, Breschi will oversee the end-to-end setup of Dream of the Desert in Saudi Arabia, including organisational build-out, regulatory coordination, product development, distribution, talent development, and operational performance.
Breschi brings a strong track record in international expansion and luxury hospitality development. He joined Arsenale Group in 2023 as part of its global leadership team, following senior roles focused on growth across the Middle East, and previously served as a Partner at McKinsey & Company, advising global developers and sovereign entities on large-scale tourism and hospitality strategies.
In parallel to his role as General Manager of Dream of the Desert, Breschi has been appointed CEO of Arsenale International, where he spearheads all Arsenale projects outside Italy. In this capacity, Dream of the Desert remains a flagship project within the international portfolio, with his primary focus centered on its successful delivery and launch in Saudi Arabia.
“Establishing our headquarters in Riyadh reflects our commitment to building Dream of the Desert from within the Kingdom,’’ said Raffaele Breschi, General Manager of Dream of the Desert. “Working alongside our national partners enables us to shape a rail experience that is globally distinctive yet deeply rooted in Saudi culture – one that celebrates the Kingdom’s landscapes, heritage, and hospitality while setting a new benchmark for experiential travel in the region.’’
Designed to redefine luxury rail travel globally while showcasing Saudi Arabia’s landscapes, culture and heritage, Dream of the Desert will offer immersive, one to three-day journeys across the country, combining refined onboard hospitality with curated off-board experiences. The project forms part of Saudi Arabia’s broader tourism and infrastructure transformation, supporting Saudi Vision 2030’s ambition to position the Kingdom as a leading destination for high-value, culturally rooted travel.
Spanning more than 1,300 kilometers of Saudi Arabia’s existing railway tracks, the route will activate destinations across multiple locations, creating new gateways into the country’s natural and cultural landscapes through curated itineraries that blend craftsmanship, storytelling and destination discovery.
Beyond its luxury travel experience, Dream of the Desert is set to play a meaningful socio-economic role in Saudi Arabia. The project will support hospitality workforce development, with a strong focus on Saudization, enable specialised skills transfer in rail-based guest experience operations, stimulate local supply chains, and contribute to the continued growth of an experiential tourism ecosystem across the country.
With its headquarters now established in Riyadh and leadership focused on delivery, Dream of the Desert moves steadily toward its 2026 debut as one of Saudi Arabia’s most distinctive luxury experiential travel initiatives.
Priority List is now open via the website. For details on itineraries & experiences, please visit www.dreamofthedesert.com.
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تلر وجيديا تعلنان عن شراكة استراتيجية تعيد تشكيل مستقبل المدفوعات الرقمية في المنطقة
مايو، 2026دبي، الإمارات العربية المتحدة – (التاريخ) أعلنت تلر، مزوّد خدمات الدفع المرخّص من مصرف الإمارات العربية المتحدة المركزي، عن شراكة استراتيجية مع جيديا، إحدى الشركات البارزة في منظومة التكنولوجيا المالية في دولة الإمارات. ويأتي هذا التعاون بهدف تعزيز الخدمات المقدّمة للتجار ورفع مستويات الكفاءة التشغيلية في معالجة المدفوعات عبر مختلف القنوات.
تقود تلر مشهد المدفوعات عبر بوابة دفع مملوكة بالكامل وبنية تحتية متطورة تمكّن التجار من سرعة أعلى، واعتمادية أكبر، وتحكم كامل في كل معاملة مما يمكنها من تقديم حلولًا متكاملة في عالم التجارة الإلكترونية. وتمتد هذه القوة عبر نقاط البيع الذكية داخل المتاجر من جيديا، لتقديم تجربة دفع موحّدة وآمنة وسلسة عبر جميع القنوات.
قال خليل العلمي، المؤسس والرئيس التنفيذي لشركة تلر:
"لا تقتصر هذه الشراكة على مجرد تعاون، بل تمثل محطة استراتيجية تعيد رسم ملامح مشهد المدفوعات في المنطقة. فهي تعزز ريادة تلر في قيادة مستقبل المدفوعات. ومن خلال بوابتنا المملوكة بالكامل وبنيتنا التحتية المتقدمة، نمكّن التجار من تنفيذ عمليات دفع أسرع وأكثر ذكاءً وسلاسة عبر جميع القنوات، مع تحكم كامل وأداء أعلى وثقة تدعم نموهم." وأضاف العلمي: "ومع إضافة حلول نقاط البيع الذكية داخل المتاجر من جيديا، نرسّخ منظومة مدفوعات موحّدة ومتكاملة، جاهزة للمستقبل ومصممة لقيادة النمو في اقتصاد رقمي متسارع".
أضاف بانكاج كوندرا، الرئيس التنفيذي لشركة جيديا:
"في جيديا، نلتزم بتبسيط وتعزيز الطريقة التي تقبل وتدير بها الشركات المدفوعات. يجمع تعاوننا مع تلر بين نقاط قوة متكاملة لإنشاء منظومة تجارة موحدة وسلسة، تمكّن التجار من مرونة أكبر، وفهم أعمق لأداء أعمالهم، والقدرة على التوسع بثقة في اقتصاد رقمي سريع التطور."
ومن خلال قيادة هذا التعاون، تعزز تلر مكانتها كأحد أبرز اللاعبين في قطاع المدفوعات، وتواصل الإسهام في تطوير منظومة الدفع، وتقديم قيمة مضافة للتجار والعملاء والسوق على حد سواء.
عن تلر:
تأسست تلر بوابة الدفع الإلكتروني في عام 2014، ومقرها الإمارات العربية المتحدة. وهي شركة حائزة على العديد من الجوائز تقديراً لتميزها. تُقدم منصة فريدة تُمكِّن من قبول المدفوعات بأكثر من 120 عملة وذلك بفضل الإمكانيات الكبيرة التي تتميز بها منصتها للدفع الإلكتروني، حيث تتوفر بأكثر من 30 لغة وتضمن أعلى مستوى من الأمان في الإمارات العربية المتحدة والمملكة العربية السعودية والبحرين والأردن. ومن خلال عملية ربط واحدة، تمنح تلر لعملائها الوصول لمجموعة متنوعة من طرق الدفع، بما في ذلك: بطاقات فيزا وماستركارد وأمريكان إكسبريس ويونيون بي وJCB وآبل بي وغوغل بي وسامسونج بي وباي بال ومدى وسداد وstc pay وurpay.
وقد قامت شركة تلر بتوسيع خدماتها بشكل أكبر، حيث قدمت حلولًا متكاملة في عالم التجارة الإلكترونية. تُغطي الشركة مجموعة واسعة من الخدمات المالية والتجارية، بما في ذلك التجارة عبر وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي، رموزQR، الفواتير الرقمية، خدمة "تلر اشترِ الآن وادفع لاحقًا" وبرنامج تمويل التجار "تلرفايننس". تلر هي أول شركة حصلت على شهادة الامتثال لمعايير أمان بيانات بطاقات الدفع من المستوى الأول PCI DSSوشهادة الهيئة الوطنية للأمن الإلكتروني (NESA) في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا.
مرخّصة من مصرف الإمارات العربية المتحدة المركزي لتقديم خدمات الدفع للتجزئة، ومعتمدة كمزوّد تقني لخدمات الدفع الإلكتروني في المملكة العربية السعودية، من البنك المركزي السعودي (ساما)، بما يعكس التزامها بأعلى المعايير التنظيمية. لمعرفة المزيد:
لمعرفة المزيد:
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أبوظبي، الإمارات العربية المتحدة - 12 مايو 2026: أعلنت مجموعة أغذية ش.م.ع (AGTHIA:UH)، إحدى الشركات الرائدة في قطاع الأغذية والمشروبات على مستوى المنطقة، اليوم عن تحقيق أداء قوي خلال الربع الأول من عام 2026، بما يعكس كفاءة المجموعة في التنفيذ عبر محفظة أعمالها المتنوعة، وقدرتها على الحفاظ على استمرارية العمليات رغم التحديات المحيطة.
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