The Council of the European Union formally adopted the ReFuelEU initiative's regulations on Oct. 9, reinforcing its commitment to heighten the demand and production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) across EU member states.
The journey towards this adoption began over a year ago. After MEPs' approval of draft guidelines in July 2022, the European Parliament reached a consensus on the proposal by April 2023. The European Parliament members (MEPs) sanctioned the ReFuelEU regulations on Sept. 13.
Following its adoption, the regulations are scheduled for publication in the EU's official journal soon and will be effective from the twentieth day post-publication. Full implementation is expected by Jan. 1, 2024.
The ReFuelEU initiative aligns with the EU's broader “Fit for 55” agenda, aiming for a 55 percent reduction in GHG emissions by 2030, using 1990 as a reference, and attaining net-zero emissions by 2050.
The revised aviation regulations under ReFuelEU mandate EU airports and fuel suppliers to ensure a minimum of 2 percent of aviation fuel is sustainable by 2025, incrementally increasing to 70 percent by 2050. The directive also enforces the inclusion of synthetic fuels like e-kerosene, with a phased requirement starting at 1.2 percent in 2030 and scaling up to 35 percent by 2050.
The ReFuelEU specifications classify SAFs as those derived from sources such as bio-waste, agricultural residues, algae, used cooking oil, and certain animal fats. Sustainable fuels also cover recycled jet fuels originating from waste gases and plastics. Notably, the regulations exclude fuels produced from feed and food crops, like palm and soy, due to their inability to meet the established sustainability benchmarks.
Another pivotal aspect of the ReFuelEU initiative is the introduction of a flight labeling system by 2025. This label will allow airlines to display their flights' expected carbon footprint per passenger and CO2 efficiency per kilometer, providing passengers with a comparison tool to assess the environmental impact of different airlines on identical routes.
Further details about the initiative can be accessed on the official website of the Council of the European Union.
