ReFuelEU Aviation is a regulatory initiative under the European Union’s Fit for 55 package, aimed at reducing the climate impact of air transport by increasing the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). The regulation sets binding obligations on fuel suppliers and aviation stakeholders to scale up the adoption of low-carbon and renewable aviation fuels within the EU aviation sector.
Adopted in October 2023, ReFuelEU Aviation is a core component of the EU’s broader goal to become climate-neutral by 2050, while ensuring the resilience and competitiveness of the aviation industry.
What is ReFuelEU Aviation?
ReFuelEU Aviation establishes mandatory minimum shares of SAF that must be blended into jet fuel supplied at EU airports. It also introduces a sub-mandate for synthetic aviation fuels, such as e-kerosene, starting later in the decade.
The regulation applies to:
- Fuel suppliers operating at EU airports,
- Aircraft operators departing from EU airports,
- And airport authorities, responsible for facilitating SAF infrastructure.
Unlike voluntary sustainability measures, ReFuelEU Aviation introduces legally binding targets that will progressively increase over time, creating a stable regulatory environment for SAF producers, airlines, and investors.
SAF Blending Mandates
The regulation defines a schedule of increasing SAF blending mandates for fuel supplied at EU airports:
- 2% SAF by 2025
- 6% by 2030
- 20% by 2035
- 34% by 2040
- 42% by 2045
- 70% by 2050
Within this, a specific synthetic fuel (e-fuel) sub-mandate is established:
- 1.2% e-fuels by 2030
- 5% by 2035
- 35% by 2050
These targets aim to stimulate market demand for renewable fuels, accelerate SAF production, and create a level playing field across the EU.
Key Objectives
The ReFuelEU Aviation regulation pursues multiple strategic goals:
- Decarbonizing aviation by reducing lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions.
- Driving SAF innovation and investment by providing long-term policy certainty.
- Enhancing fuel security and diversification across Europe.
- Supporting industrial development in renewable fuel and synthetic kerosene production.
- Aligning aviation with the EU Green Deal and the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Types of Eligible Fuels
ReFuelEU Aviation recognizes several SAF pathways that meet the EU’s sustainability and GHG performance standards, including:
- HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) from waste oils and fats,
- Synthetic fuels (e-fuels) made from renewable hydrogen and captured CO₂,
- Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) from ethanol or isobutanol,
- Gas-to-Jet using renewable gases and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis,
- Other advanced biofuels from non-food biomass or waste streams.
All fuels must comply with sustainability criteria outlined in the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II and RED III) and demonstrate GHG emission savings of at least 70% compared to fossil kerosene.
Benefits of ReFuelEU Aviation
- Emissions reduction: Lifecycle CO₂ emissions can be reduced by up to 80% with advanced SAFs.
- Market harmonization: Establishes uniform SAF requirements across EU airports.
- Innovation catalyst: Encourages industrial-scale SAF production, particularly of synthetic fuels.
- Energy diversification: Reduces aviation’s dependency on fossil fuels and strengthens EU energy security.
- Environmental and health co-benefits: SAF use results in lower emissions of particulates and sulfur oxides, improving air quality around airports.
