On 25 April, the Council and the European Parliament reached an agreement on a proposal aiming to decarbonise the aviation sector and create a level playing field for a sustainable air transport, as part of the ReFuelEU Aviation initiative.
The proposal aims to increase both demand for and supply of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), while ensuring a level playing field across the EU air transport market. It is a major proposal which aims to put air transport on the trajectory of the EU’s climate targets for 2030 and 2050, as SAFs are one of the key short- and medium-term tools for decarbonising aviation. It should provide a way out of the situation which is hindering their development: low supply and prices that are still much higher than fossil fuels.
We have now taken another important step towards reducing emissions in the aviation sector. The EU is ready for take-off towards a more sustainable future for aviation.
Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal
Once in place, the new rules will help decarbonise the aviation sector by requiring fuel suppliers to blend SAF with kerosene in increasing amounts from 2025. This measure on its own is projected to reduce aircraft CO2 emissions by around two-thirds by 2050 compared to a ‘no action’ scenario and provide climate and air quality benefits by reducing non-CO2 emissions.
“Shifting to sustainable aviation fuels will improve our energy security, while reducing reliance on fossil fuel imports. These kinds of measures help make Europe a front-runner in the production of innovative clean fuels, globally. We estimate that the SAF market will create more than 200,000 additional jobs in the EU, mainly in the renewables sector”, said Adina Vălean, European Commissioner for Transport.
The deal marks the last agreement on the transport proposals within the ‘Fit for 55′ package, as agreements on updated rules on emissions trading in the aviation sector and in the maritime sector, on promoting sustainable fuels for shipping, as well as on the accelerated deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure, were already reached.
“Since we now have RefuelEU and other Fit for 55 policies that will decarbonise aviation, national bans on short-haul flights are unnecessary and should be avoided”, commented Walter Goetz, Vălean’s Head of Cabinet, in an interview with Olivier Jankovec, Director General at Airports Council International (ACI) Europe, during the Regional Airports Conference and Exhibition.
Specifically, the new rules will require aviation fuel suppliers to supply a minimum share of SAF at EU airports, starting at 2% of overall fuel supplied by 2025, rising to 6% by 2030 and reaching 70% by 2050. The blending mandate covers biofuels, recycled carbon fuels and synthetic aviation fuels (e-fuels) in line with the Renewable Energy Directive, but excludes food and feed crops, supporting sustainability objectives.
The new EU jet fuel blend will also need to contain a minimum share of the most modern and environmentally friendly synthetic fuels, which increases over time. Negotiators agreed to a 1.2% synthetic fuel mandate between 2030 and 2031 and 2% between 2032 and 2035, a stark increase from the original European Commission proposal of only 0.7% between 2030 and 2035.
Aircraft operators departing from EU airports will only be allowed to refuel with the fuel necessary for the flight, to avoid emissions related to extra weight or carbon leakage caused by ‘tankering’ practices (deliberately carrying excess fuel to avoid refuelling with SAF). Thus, the yearly quantity of aviation fuel uplifted at a given EU airport has to be at least 90% of the yearly aviation fuel required.
Lastly, airports must ensure that their fuelling infrastructure is available and fit for SAF distribution.
