The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has found that in 2024, just 0.6% of all aviation fuel supplied at European Union (EU) airports was sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
In its first ReFuelEU Aviation Annual Technical Report, released on 22 October, EASA found that the 2024 figure, equivalent to 193 kilotonnes, resulted in the avoidance of around 714 kilotonnes of CO2 emissions. This is the equivalent of around 10,000 flights between Madrid and Paris, according to IATA’s CO2 calculator.
The report celebrates the important first steps taken by the EU, particularly with the 2025 mandatory target for 2% of the total aviation fuel supplied at designated Union airports to be SAF.
“A functioning system is now in place, initial reporting compliance levels are solid, and SAF delivery is happening across multiple member states,” said Maria Rueda, EASA’s Safety Management, Sustainability and Global Outreach Director.
EASA also underlined that from 2025, the data supplied for the report will be used to assess whether the obligation to supply at least 2% of total aviation fuel as SAF has been met.
Key findings in the report show that production capacity assessments indicate the EU is on track to meet the overall mandatory SAF blending target (6%) in 2030.
It also found that the average price of SAF in 2024 was €2,085/ tonne (versus €734/tonne for conventional jet fuel).
While 25 fuel suppliers provided SAF to 33 EU airports across 12 member states, airports in five member states, including the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Germany.)
Almost all SAF was biofuel, produced overwhelmingly from used cooking oil (81%) with a further 17% from waste/animal fats. What’s more, 69% of feedstock originated from outside the EU with China (38%) and Malaysia 12th supplying the bulk. Finland was found to be the largest EU contributor (10%).
Looking ahead, the data supplied in the report will help assess whether the 2025 mandate to supply at least 2% of total aviation fuel as SAF has been met. This threshold applies for around 150 union European airports that handle more than 800,000 passengers per year and therefore fall under the SAF regulation.
