The European Union defines new targets for the diffusion of synthetic fuels (derived from H2) in aviation
Yesterday (25 April; ed) the European co-legislators (Commission, Council and Parliament) reached an agreement on the formulation of the ReFuelEU Aviation regulation, the latest of the regulatory packages on transport deriving from the 'Fit for 55' plan.
In the final version of the text - explained the Hydrogen Europe association - it is expected that sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) should reach 70% of the entire volume of fuels distributed in EU airports by 2050, and have also been identified sub-targets for synthetic e-fuels (the category of SAF also includes those of biological origin) derived from hydrogen.
In particular, it has been established – to the satisfaction of Hydrogen Europe itself – that synthetic fuels for aviation must reach a target of 1.2% by 2031 and 2% by 2032, while the fact that no target is been set for 2025 is, according to the association, "a missed opportunity".
Furthermore, in this definitive formulation of the provision, the perimeter of technologies that will be able to contribute to the diffusion of SAFs has been expanded, and renewable hydrogen has been explicitly included among these, another aspect positively welcomed by Hydrogen Europe.
“After the results already achieved in recent months with the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) and with the proposal relating to the FuelEU Maritime regulation, we are happy that precise and ambitious objectives have now been defined also on the use of alternative fuels in aviation” commented Darko Levicar, Mobility Policy Director of Hydrogen Europe.
“The agreement reached by the European institutions represents a turning point for the decarbonisation process of this 'hard to abbot' sector. By defining binding objectives for the diffusion of SAF, the new provision offers fuel suppliers a sufficiently clear and certain regulatory framework to be able to plan investments and therefore create supply chains in European airports".
