EU agrees rules to boost use of sustainable fuels in aviation

The EU has agreed rules requiring airlines to start using green aviation fuels from 2025 as it steps up plans to lower emissions from one of the bloc’s most polluting sectors. All aircraft fuel at EU airports will have to be blended with sustainable aviation fuels, starting at a minimum share of 2% in 2025 and rising every five years to 70% by 2050. The landmark rules are part of the EU’s ambitious climate change legislation, which aims to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 55% by 2030 compared with 1990 levels and be carbon-neutral by 2050. Sustainable aviation fuels covered by the rules include biofuels, recycled carbon fuels and synthetic fuels, such as e-kerosene, which is produced using captured CO₂ and hydrogen. Specific targets were set for those synthetic fuels, which have to be included from 2030. Fuels made from food and feed crops such as soy are excluded. The rules aim to kick-start the production of sustainable fuels for aircraft in Europe, which at present are only produced in small quantities. Airports will be required to provide the necessary infrastructure for refuelling with sustainable fuels. Matteo Mirolo, aviation manager from the green group Transport & Environment, said the deal would “provide airlines with the certainty that synthetic kerosene will become cheaper and widely available”. In addition, aircraft leaving from EU airports will only be allowed to refuel with the volumes necessary to complete their flight, to prevent attempts to circumvent the sustainability requirements. According to the EC, aviation emissions are growing faster than emissions from most other sectors. Emissions from aviation rose 5% year on year between 2013 and 2019 before a temporary decline during the pandemic, the commission said, and were projected to grow further.<br/>