Call for ambitious EU synthetic jet fuel targets while preserving a level playing field for airlines

The European Commission (EC) should set ambitious targets for e-kerosene, a green synthetic fuel, when it proposes the world’s first sustainable jet fuel law this month, according to Transport & Environment (T&E), Lufthansa, the Global Alliance Powerfuels, pilots’ representatives, and other aviation industry and energy players. The group, which also includes Schiphol and Copenhagen airports and e-fuel suppliers, said a clear market signal for making e-kerosene from green hydrogen would help put aviation on a path to sustainability.

In a public letter, they call for a target for the use of e-kerosene under the new ReFuel EU law commencing in 2027 at 0.5% to 1% for the EU market. The mandate could rise potentially to 2.5% in 2030, as long as the sustainability of such a target can be assured. 

The ambitious mandate depends on careful consideration of measures to avoid competitive distortion to the disadvantage of European airlines. The cross-sector group maintains that these measures should be introduced swiftly along with the mandate.

Matteo Mirolo, Aviation Policy Officer at industry lobbying group T&E, says: ‘E-kerosene can immediately and sustainably start reducing aviation's climate impact without any changes to the way aircraft operate. The EU should provide investors with an unambiguous signal that there will be a growing market for e-kerosene in Europe while at the same time put in place measures to avoid competitive distortion to the disadvantage of European airlines.’

The EC is expected to propose its ReFuel EU Aviation legislation on 14 July 2021.