Brussels, 13 June 2024- The latest SAF Market Outlook report from SkyNRG shows that European airlines and suppliers can meet the levels introduced by ReFuel EU which will require 2% of aviation fuel uplifted in Europe to be SAF from 2025, up to 6% in 2030. However, sustained policy support and financial investment is necessary to help European airlines achieve their ambitious targets for SAF which go beyond the EU mandate in many cases.
While the forecast indicates that Europe is well positioned when it comes to providing SAF by 2025, there remain a number of challenges to maintaining this momentum and ensuring that SAF production continues to accelerate. This is particularly the case for e-SAF where many projects are still in feasibility stage and need to get off the plans and become reality as soon as possible.
At an event in Brussels launching the report on 11 June, Laurent Donceel, Deputy Managing Director of A4E outlined some of the challenges the European SAF sector faces including cost of production and cost of supply, access to renewable energy, access to SAF across the EU and ensuring the sustainability of feedstock used in European SAF.
Donceel said,
“It is positive to see that SkyNRG forecasts there will be sufficient SAF to meet the requirements of ReFuel EU until 2030. But many European airlines aren’t stopping there. They want to do more so it is important that Europe designs a SAF industrial policy that addresses the cost of production, accelerates the supply and ultimately brings down the cost of SAF in Europe. Synthetic fuels in aviation, which will form part of the EU’s ReFuel mandate, will require particular attention in the coming months. e-SAF will require a large amount of clean energy and hydrogen for their production and yet have failed to catch enough attention from financial markets and policy-makers so far. ”
“Growing a nascent SAF industry into one that will provide the majority of the fuel for airlines is a monumental task. For airlines, there is a need to work with airports to help develop the market for SAF; finance needs to flow into the sector and the energy industry needs to get serious about the transition away from fossil fuels. This report shows that a sustained effort from users, producers, policymakers and financers will ensure we reach our targets. The stakes are too important for them not to deliver and this report should be a clarion call to all to knuckle down and deliver,” he continued.
The SAF Market Outlook Report produced by SkyNRG is available here
Media Contact:
Kevin Hiney: Communications Director, A4E
Tel: +32 499 828294
Email: kevin.hiney@a4e.eu
About A4E
Airlines for Europe (A4E) is Europe’s largest airline association. Based in Brussels, A4E works with policymakers to ensure aviation policy continues to connect Europeans with the world in a safe, competitive and sustainable manner. With a modern fleet of over 3,600 aircraft, A4E airlines carried over 718 million passengers in 2023 and served nearly 2,100 destinations. Each year, A4E members transport more than 5 million tons of vital goods and equipment to more than 360 destinations either by freighters or passenger aircraft. A4E is #Flyingforourfuture with our commitment to Europe and our call to action for incoming policymakers. Find out more at Flyingforourfuture.eu