The proposed EU-wide mandate on the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has cleared its last major hurdle after political agreement was reached between two of the union’s major institutions.
A deal on the ReFuelEU Aviation mandate was agreed on Tuesday (25 April) between the European Parliament and the Council, which represents the 27 member states.
The SAF policy, which will require airlines to increase their use of sustainable fuels for flights departing from EU airports (known as the blending mandate), is now set to be implemented from 2025 – it will start at a minimum 2 per cent share of SAF and then rise to 6 per cent in 2030, with the ultimate target of reaching 70 per cent SAF by 2050.
It is the final transport element of the EU’s Fit for 55 package, which is designed to turn climate goals into law, including the commitment to cut emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030. SAF can reduce carbon emissions by up to 80 per cent compared to traditional kerosene jet fuel.
The policy forms part of the European Green Deal initiative to make the continent carbon neutral by 2050.
Adina Valean, EU commissioner for transport, said: “This political agreement is a turning point for European aviation, putting it on a solid pathway towards decarbonisation. 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.”
As well as introducing the SAF mandate, airlines operating from EU airports will only be able to take on the fuel required for the next flight, rather than carrying excess fuel to avoid having to take on SAF-blended fuel. This overfuelling practice is known as “tankering” and creates extra weight and carbon “leakage”. Airports will also be required to ensure that their fuelling infrastructure is “fit for SAF distribution”.
Frans Timmermans, executive vice-president for the European Green Deal, said: “Fuel suppliers at EU airports must provide an increasing share of sustainable aviation fuels and aircraft operators increase their use.”
Sustainablity group Travel & Environment said the approval of the EU’s SAF mandate would “kickstart Europe’s green aviation fuel market”.
Matteo Mirolo, aviation manager at T&E, said: “This pioneering deal is an unwavering endorsement of the world’s largest green fuel mandate for aviation.
“The ramp-up of SAFs can now start, but there is more work to be done. Ensuring the success of SAFs will require industrial support policies for synthetic kerosene but also stronger safeguards to ensure that no unsustainable biofuels creep into airplane tanks,” added Mirolo.
The EU’s SAF mandate will now undergo formal adoption by the Parliament and Council. It will then enter force with “immediate effect”.