EU on track to meet SAF target: European Commission

The European Commission said the European Union is on track to meet the 2% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) target at EU airports and is progressing towards the 6% target by 2030.

“ReFuelEU Aviation sets European air transport on a solid path to decarbonisation. It improves the tracking of sustainable aviation fuels, to simplify reporting obligations, and to strengthen the verification mechanism. These improvements address industry concerns, strengthen EU SAF market, and support the transition to sustainable aviation,” said Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism.

The commission published a report assessing the development of the EU sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) market and evaluating potential improvements to the SAF flexibility mechanism.

Alongside the report, a comprehensive FAQ on ReFuelEU Aviation has been released to provide further clarity and support for stakeholders implementing the regulation.

The flexibility mechanism allows fuel suppliers to average SAF blending obligations across EU airports until 2035. The report concludes that this mechanism, combined with the ongoing expansion of SAF production capacity in the EU, is already driving progress toward achieving SAF targets, and complex additional flexibility mechanisms appear to be unwarranted at this stage.

The commission said that it will continue to monitor SAF market developments, with a focus on advanced biofuels and synthetic aviation fuels.

Further assessment of SAF accounting mechanisms, including those enabling virtual trading of SAF certificates, is also under preparation.

The commission also plans to issue a Sustainable Transport Investment Plan later in 2025, outlining a strategic approach to scale-up and prioritise investments in transport decarbonisation solutions, including SAF.