The European Parliament and European Council have reached a political agreement on the so-called ReFuelEU Aviation proposal, setting conditions for codifying rules to help decarbonize the aviation sector by requiring fuel suppliers to blend sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) with kerosene in increasing amounts starting in 2025.
This measure on its own would reduce aircraft CO2 emissions by some two-thirds by 2050 compared with a “no action” scenario and provide climate and air quality benefits by reducing non-CO2 emissions.
The deal marks the last agreement on the transport proposals within the Fit for 55 package, in which legislators agreed to updated rules on emissions trading in the aviation and maritime sectors, as well as the accelerated deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure.
The new rules will require aviation fuel suppliers to provide a minimum share of SAF at EU airports, starting at 2 percent of overall fuel supplied by 2025 and reaching 70 percent by 2050. The new EU jet fuel blend will need to also contain a minimum share (which increases over time) of the most modern and environmentally friendly synthetic fuels.
In addition, the rules mandate that aircraft operators departing from EU airports refuel only with the fuel necessary for the flight as a means to avoid emissions related to extra weight or carbon leakage caused by deliberately carrying excess fuel to avoid refueling with SAF.
Finally, the legislation would require airports to ensure the availability of SAF and fitness for its distribution in their fueling infrastructure.
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. Since it will apply throughout the EU, the mandate will ensure a level playing field within the EU internal market, provide legal certainty to fuel producers, and help accelerate large-scale production across the continent, according to the European Commission. Legislators also expect the rules to ensure the EU's energy security by reducing dependencies on third-country sourced energy products and creating thousands of jobs in the energy sector.
The agreement reached on Tuesday requires formal adoption by the Parliament and the Council. Once that process ends, the Official Journal of the European Union will publish the legislation, marking its immediate enactment.
This agreement represents an important step toward the implementation of the Commission's Fit for 55 legislative package, helping to achieve the EU's climate ambitions under the European Green Deal.
Aviation emissions in Europe increased an average of 5 percent year-over-year between 2013 and 2019, according to the Commission.
“While dropping dramatically during the pandemic, aviation emissions are still projected to grow further, the Commission said in a statement. “The increased climate ambition of the aviation sector will be crucial for the EU to reach its climate objectives under the Paris Agreement and make the European Green Deal a reality.”
To achieve climate neutrality, the EU needs to reduce transport emissions by 90 percent by 2050 compared with 1990 levels. RefuelEU Aviation will help the aviation sector contribute to achieving that target, together with the revised rules on the EU Emissions Trading System in the aviation sector.