A recent study claiming that using animal fats as green jet fuel will hurt the planet has been the point of discussion for the past several days. The study, conducted on behalf of Transport & Environment (T&E), suggested that greater transparency was needed in terms of what is being used to fuel people’s flights. With the burning of animal fat biofuels set to triple by 2030, there might not be enough to scale it up sustainably, warned T&E in the conclusions of the study.
Soon after, FuelsEurope pointed out that the use of animal fat as green jet fuel already addressed by the EU through the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) as well as the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation.
Sustainable aviation is a shared goal across societies, industries and economies. It is right and proper that this crucial debate is had and is had publicly.
A4E, ACI EUROPE, ASD, CANSO and ERA
In light of scrutiny of the issue over the past few days, the five leading European aviation associations which are close partners in the Destination 2050 decarbonisation roadmap – Airlines for Europe (A4E), Airports Council International (ACI) Europe, European Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries (ASD), CANSO and European Regions Airlines Association (ERA) – are reconfirming their support for the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation. In doing so, they are also urging member states to “unstick the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation” and begin making Europe a leader in SAF production worldwide.
“Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) play a decisive role in the decarbonisation roadmap to which the sector has committed”, the industry expresses. “The international race for SAF leadership has started and EU investors and industrial partners are waiting for a strong policy signal from the legislators to unleash their investments.”
The EU institutions cannot afford to further delay their decision and the EU to be left behind in terms of decarbonisation and competitiveness, warns a joint statement from the five associations, highlighting that accelerating the take-up of renewables over the next decade is key to enabling the transition towards a carbon-neutral economy and meeting the EU climate objectives.
The ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation should therefore be complemented with further incentives for production of SAF through their inclusion into the EU Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA), mirroring the US approach in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
