EU confirms no crop aviation fuels

The European Commission today confirmed crop-based biofuels will not be promoted as part of its forthcoming initiative on sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), also known as biojet.

"We would a priori exclude crop-based fuels. But we will not create a separate regime for aviation. We will rely on the sustainability framework under the renewable directive as it is today or as revised on the basis of the commission's proposal in July," said European Commission's director for aviation Filip Cornelis.

He did not mention specific target figures for a SAF blending mandate by 2030, but said there will be "ambitious and realistic" targets aimed at not overshooting and creating an artificial shortage. The commission will also set a review clause to revise targets, if appropriate, in five years time and propose fines for fuel suppliers that do not meet required blending levels.

"The minimum blend would be the one available at all EU airports. Everybody uplifting jet fuels at EU airports would be uplifting the EU blend. This is the most simple, effective with the largest impact," Cornelis said.

Longer-term, Cornelis added the commission wants SAFs to reach a 63pc share by 2050. He also stressed the need for a level-playing field. The commission aims to present on 14 July a range of legislative proposals aimed at decreasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 55pc by 2030.

These include proposals to boost transport renewables, and increase uptake of sustainable fuels in the maritime and aviation sectors. The commission also intends to publish legal proposals revising coverage of aviation and emissions under the EU emission trading system (ETS).

Cornelis was speaking at an event on SAFs organised today by non-governmental environmental organisation Transport & Environment (T&E). Separately, the NGO called for the commission not only to exclude crop-based biofuels from SAFs but also natural gas from the forthcoming legislative proposals to boost the uptake of sustainable fuels in the maritime sector.

Natural gas and biofuels, including those from crop-based feedstocks, alongside electricity, hydrogen, synthetic and paraffinic fuels and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), are classified as alternative fuels under a 2014 EU directive, also up for revision in July.

Under the draft 312-page impact assessment for revision of the EU's renewables directive one of the preferred options sets out an increased 26pc overall target share for renewables in transport by 2030, up from 14pc currently. This would be under an overall renewable target share of at least 38-40pc in 2030. This option also includes "earmarking" advanced biofuels above the current 3.5pc target share, and up to 5.5pc, for the aviation and maritime sectors. There could also be a dedicated percentage sub-target for renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RNFBOs).

The commission's impact assessment does not specifically exclude crop-based biofuels and natural gas from incentives for the maritime and aviation sectors. But the commission notes the contribution to decarbonisation from food- and feed-crop based biofuels is "limited due to their impact on indirect land use change and their contribution should be minimised".

By Dafydd ab Iago