AreaEuropean Union
Commodity GroupBiofuels
CommodityAviation fuels
Date01/07/2021
Policy CategoryRenewable energy
Policy InstrumentBioenergy policies
DescriptionPublished a proposal aimed at decarbonizing the EUs aviation sector, including provisions for fostering the production and uptake of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs). Reportedly, feed and food crop-based biofuels would not qualify as SAFs for sustainability reasons, with the exception of fuels produced from waste lipids, such as used cooking oil and animal fats.
NotesEUROPEAN UNION biofuel policy: A recently released proposal aimed at decarbonizing the EUs aviation sector includes provisions for fostering from 2025 onward the production and uptake of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs). Under the proposed regulation, eligible SAFs comprise advanced biofuels stemming from agricultural and forestry waste and synthetic or e-fuels (i.e. renewable fuels of non-biological origin, such as green hydrogen). Feed and food crop-based biofuels (also known as first-generation biofuels) would be excluded for sustainability reasons, although SAFs produced from waste lipids (such as used cooking oil and animal fats) would be eligible in order to launch the market and allow for emission reductions in the short term. In general, SAF eligibility will be determined using the sustainability criteria established under the EUs Renewable Energy Directive (RED II). The European Commissions proposal, which still requires approval by the European Parliament and Council, has met with criticism from the crop-based biofuels industry, with industry representatives asking on what grounds first-generation biofuels would be banned from the aviation sector while being allowed as car transport fuel.
