March 28. 2024. 10:50

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Deal struck to make sustainable jet fuels mandatory for all EU flights


Every plane departing from an EU airport will have to partially run on green jet fuel from 2025, according to a deal reached by the European Parliament and EU member states late on Tuesday (25 April).

The regulation will reduce the carbon footprint of flying by replacing kerosene with cleaner alternatives, according to an announcement by Parliament and the Council of the EU, representing the bloc’s 27 member states.

A compromise was reached on issues that had divided the two sides since the so-called ReFuelEU Aviation law was first tabled by the European Commission in July 2021: the percentage of green jet fuel that must be uplifted and the type of feedstocks permissible for the production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).

Under the final agreement, the percentage of SAF that must be blended with kerosene will start at 2% by 2025, moving to 6% by 2030, 20% by 2035, 34% by 2040, and reaching 70% by 2050.

A dedicated sub-target for synthetic fuels derived from green hydrogen will also come into force from 2030. Starting at 1.2%, this will be scaled up to 5% by 2035, reaching 35% by 2050.

Parliament had originally pushed for an 85% share of SAF by 2050, while the Council stuck with the Commission’s proposal of 63%.

As of 2025, an EU “eco label” will also be added to flights, outlining the carbon footprint of the journey.

Revenues from fines for non-compliance with the new rules will be funnelled into researching the production of innovative forms of SAF.

The European Commission is also required to prepare a report by 2027, and then every four years, examining the impact of the regulation on the fuel market, and the competitiveness and connectivity of the EU’s aviation sector.

The political deal reached between Parliament and Council must now be officially ratified by both institutions before it becomes law.

Parliament’s chief negotiator, José Ramón Bauzá Díaz of the centrist Renew group, said he was proud that “the European Parliament has been successful in defending and advancing the ambitious development of sustainable aviation fuels across the EU”.

“We have created a level playing field through harmonised rules and preserved EU air connectivity. With this regulation, the decarbonisation of aviation becomes closer,” he said.

Cross-party support in Parliament

The centre-right EPP group praised the agreement, saying the green light for a wider SAF definition will make it possible to reach the legislation’s aims.

“The new rules will oblige aviation fuel suppliers to deliver the share of SAFs with flexibility. A broad definition of SAF will help European producers and aircraft operators to meet realistic targets,” said Cláudia Monteiro de Aguiar, the EPP’s shadow rapporteur.

“Now, we must do everything possible to invest in the development and deployment of SAFs made in Europe and make sure regional connectivity is not affected,” she added.

Irish lawmaker Ciarán Cuffe, the Parliament’s expert on the file for the Greens, said the agreement sets “a pathway for the aviation sector to rid itself of fossil fuel dependence”.

Yet, Cuffe warned that the agreed targets were “not enough to reach climate neutrality” and criticised the inclusion of low-carbon electro fuels that can be produced with nuclear power.

“We are disappointed that nuclear power can contribute to the production of some of these fuels. Ramping up the use of renewable fuels will therefore be essential to reach our climate goals in the coming years,” he said.

SAF definition

Under the agreement, the feedstocks used to produce SAFs will go beyond the European Commission’s original proposal.

SAFs were originally limited by the EU executive to electro-fuels and biofuels produced from EU-approved feedstocks, which include agricultural and forestry residues, used cooking oil, and animal tallow.

In the end, the final agreement will see a wider range of biofuels incorporated into SAF production, except for those which are explicitly excluded. Those include biofuels from intermediate crops, palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD), and palm and soy-derived materials, in addition to biofuels from food and feed crops.

The inclusion of e-fuels produced with nuclear power proved highly controversial during previous negotiations in December, stalling progress on the file.

But under Tuesday night’s deal, synthetic low-carbon aviation fuels, which are nuclear-produced e-fuels, will also be permissible as SAF.

Industry, green NGOs also back the deal

Airlines for Europe (A4E), a European airline trade association, welcomed the deal, saying it will provide certainty for industry.

“European policymakers need to ensure they now follow through and help build a world-leading SAF industry,” said Laurent Donceel, acting managing director at A4E.

“The EU needs to think about SAF the way it thinks about wind turbines, solar panels and other sustainable technologies in order to support aviation’s energy transition.”

Green group Transport & Environment hailed the deal as “an unwavering endorsement of the world’s largest green fuel mandate for aviation” and called for support to boost the production of e-fuels for aviation.

“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,” said Matteo Mirolo, aviation manager at T&E.

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