On the 11th of February, the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) released its draft report on the EU’s proposed green jet fuel law (ReFuelEU Aviation).
The European Commission’s ReFuelEU Aviation proposal was released last July as part of the EU’s “Fit for 55” climate package. The proposal confirmed imposing a mandate on fuel suppliers to include sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in jet-fuel supplied at EU airports. The obligation would commence from 2025 at 2% SAF, with a separate minimum for e-fuels from 2030:
- 2% from 2025;
- 5% from 2030, with a minimum of 0.7% e-fuels;
- 20% from 2035, with a minimum of 5% e-fuels;
- 32% from 2040, with a minimum of 8% e-fuels;
- 38% by 2045; with a minimum of 11% e-fuels;
- 63% by 2050, with a minimum of 28% e-fuels.
In the TRAN’s draft report, the rapporteur and Danish MEP Søren Gade (Renew Europe), supports the general main objectives of the proposal and puts forward a series of amendments to retain free Emissions Trading System (ETS) quotas to support companies to purchase and invest in SAF.
An eight years flexibility mechanism for fuel suppliers and aircraft operators to derogate from their obligations under the regulation was also proposed. The mechanism aims to allow them a reasonable amount of time to make the necessary technological and logistical investments.
The report additionally stipulates that a single blending mandate should be imposed throughout Europe to avoid the segmentation of the SAF market, as well as a competition for feedstock that could lead to a severe shortage of supply in certain regions of the Union, undermining the ability of aircraft operators from those regions to decarbonise.
The ReFuelEU Aviation proposal will be negotiated by lawmakers in the European Parliament and Council before a final version enters into force.
Against this context, our TAKE-OFF project aims to develop and industrially validate innovative processes for the direct conversion of CO2 and renewable H2 to light olefins and subsequent conversion to SAF. Next to this, the indirect conversion of CO2 and renewable H2 to light olefins, via methanol/dimethyl ether will also be demonstrated
Find the full TRAN’s draft opinion here.
