InfoSWIT, JAKARTA - European Union Parliament approved to publish new regulation to intensify the terms and conditions in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). But palm oil and soyoil do not qualify the criteria of the program (regulation).

On 13 September 2023, members of European Parliament approved to publish new regulation to escalate SAF criteria in European Union but restricted kinds of aviation fuel materials.

Prior, the members of European Parliament in July 2022 adopted the regulation draft that was known as ReFuelEU initiative. It is part of Fit for 55 - package that European Union planned to reduce green-house gas (GHG) emission, at least, 55 percent in 2030 if compared to the baseline in 1990; and would be net zero in 2050.

European Parliament in April 2023 delivered announcement that they got political agreement on ReFuelEU proposal and now it is officially adopted.

Aviation regulation – the new ReFuelEU would oblige airports and aviation fuel in European Union to confirm that, at least, 2 percent of aviation fuel should be ‘environmental’ in 2025. The criteria would escalate to be 6 percent in 2030, 20% in 2035, 34% in 2040, 42 percent in 2024, and 70 percent in 2050.

The regulation would oblige that some of aviation materials should consist of synthesis materials, such as, kerosene. Synthetic material needs should be 1,2 percent in 2030, 2 percent in 2032, 5 percent in 2035 and in phase to be 35 percent in 2050.

As InfoSAWIT quoted from Ethanol Producer, ReFuelEU defined that SAF would cover synthesis materials, certain biofuel produced by agriculture and forestry residue, algae, natural waste, used palm cooking oil or certain animal fats. Jet aviation fuel should be from gas waste and plastic waste which are considered to be ‘environmental’.

Besides, renewable hydrogen is the fuel that should qualify the criteria in the program. The regulation prevents SAF that was produced from woof and material in food plant – base, including from palm oil and soyoil. The two should not be parts of the program. European Parliament claimed biofuel in plant – base is not classified as ‘the green’ based on ReFuelEU initiative for having no ‘sustainability criteria’.

Besides deciding SAF mandate, ReFuelEU initiative also made the new aviation label program. Start from 2024, there would be EU label for aviation criteria. Every plane can trade their aviation with the label that shows carbon trace estimation per passenger and CO2 efficiency estimation per kilometer. The label program would help the passengers compare aviation environmental performance that different aviation companies have operated in the same route.

For more, please read Majalah InfoSAWIT, January 2024