The ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation (RFEUA) stipulates in Article 13 that EASA is required to annually prepare and publish a RFEUA Annual Technical Report, starting in 2025.
This first report offers valuable insights into the preparedness of stakeholders in view of the upcoming regulatory requirements. It highlights areas where further clarifications and coordination may be necessary, helping to smooth out the process for future reporting periods. Furthermore, the 2024 data is crucial as it establishes an initial baseline. This baseline is essential for laying the foundations for future monitoring and compliance activities. By understanding the starting point, stakeholders and regulators can better track progress and ensure that the goals of the regulation are met effectively.
Key Findings
- Compliance:
- Fuel suppliers: 67% submitted reports (83/123). Reported 32.1 Mt aviation fuel supplied, incl. 193 kt SAF (0.6%).
- Aircraft operators: 74% submitted reports (262/351). Reported 38.8 Mt fuel uplifted, 358 kt SAF purchased.
- Airports: 31 managing bodies submitted reports; no SAF access difficulties reported.
- SAF supplied characteristics: 98% biofuels (mainly used cooking oil, 81%). 69% of feedstocks imported, mainly from China (38%) and Malaysia (12%).
- Emissions impact: SAF reduced lifecycle emissions by ~91%, saving 714 kt CO₂e in 2024.
- Market development: 25 suppliers provided SAF to 33 EU airports across 12 Member States; 5 Member States accounted for 99% of supply.
- Production outlook: By 2030, EU SAF production could reach 1.4 Mt (Operating), 3.6 Mt (Realistic), or 5.2 Mt + 0.7 Mt synthetic (Optimistic). Meeting 2030 SAF target (6%) is possible, but synthetic fuels lag (no facilities reached FID yet).
- Prices: 2024 SAF avg. €2,085/t vs €734/t for conventional jet fuel.
Supplementary methodology documents
- EASA reference prices for RFEUA eligible aviation fuels: This methodology document is maintained by EASA as a supplementary resource to provide a more detailed explanation of how reference prices are determined for aviation fuels eligible under the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation. Establishing these reference prices forms a key part of EASA’s work for its Annual Technical Report. The reference prices are intended to serve as reference for EU Member States in the determination of penalties under RFEUA as well as for the support mechanism for the use of eligible aviation fuels under the EU ETS Directive (FEETS).
- Assessment of EU SAF production capacities: This methodology document is maintained by EASA as a supplementary resource to provide a more detailed explanation of how EASA conduct its annual assessment of the EU’s SAF production capacities. The assessment of the EU’s SAF production capacities is a central component of EASA’s broader assessment of the EU SAF market, which forms part of the Annual Technical Report.