Council of EU and Parliament Reach Agreement for Decarbonisation of Aviation Sector

According to a press release by the Council of the EU, the proposal for such an agreement intends to increase the demand and supply of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) while also ensuring a level playing field in the European transport market, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.

The agreement proposal is important for the Union’s air transport as climate targets for 2030 and 2050, which includes utilising SAF as one of the key short- and medium-term tools for decarbonising aviation. Low supply and prices are two challenges that are hindering this transition, as SAFs are much more than fossil fuels.

The Commission’s agreement proposal key elements include the obligation for aviation fuel to contain a minimum share of SAF from 2025 and a minimum share of synthetic fuels, both increasing progressively until 2050. Another key element is the establishment of a transitional period that enables fuel suppliers to reach the SAF blending mandate in order to facilitate the organisation of the sector during its creation phase without impacting overall emission levels.

The proposed agreement also aims to obligate aircraft operators to reach a yearly quantity of aviation fuel of a minimum of 90 per cent in order to avoid emissions related to extra weight caused due to tinkering practices. All of these developments should have reporting obligations for fuel suppliers and aircraft operators, while the competent authorities have to set rules on fines in order to enforce this regulation.

However, some aspects of the Commission’s proposal include facilitating and accelerating the development of SAF, especially extending the scope of Union airports and aircraft operators as well as the variety of eligible sustainable and synthetic aviation fuels.

Another amendment to the Commission’s proposal includes extending the scope of certified biofuels complying with the Renewable Energy Directive up to a maximum of 70 per cent, except for biofuels from food and feed crops and in addition to hydrogen and synthetic low-carbon aviation fuels.

Furthermore, the proposal also includes creating a labelling scheme about environmental performance for aircraft operators using SAF, which will help consumers to detect which airlines are more climate-friendly and help them make informed choices and promote greener flights.

Data collection and reporting obligations will remain effective as they monitor the effects of the regulation, especially on the competitiveness of EU platforms and operators, as well as improve awareness of the non-CO2 effects of air transport pollution and emissions.