Certification Framework Creates Implementation Headwinds
The ReFuelEU Aviation regulation establishes a stepped mandate requiring aviation fuel suppliers to blend increasing percentages of SAF at EU airports, with specific sub-targets for synthetic e-fuels produced via power-to-liquid processes. However, ongoing challenges with certification rules are complicating compliance for airlines and fuel suppliers alike. The certification framework must verify that SAF meets strict sustainability criteria under the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive (RED III), including lifecycle greenhouse gas emission reductions and adherence to feedstock sustainability requirements.
Industry observers report that the complexity of demonstrating compliance across international supply chains—particularly for e-fuels produced from renewable hydrogen and captured CO2—is creating administrative bottlenecks. Airlines operating in Europe must now navigate overlapping certification standards while securing sufficient volumes of certified SAF to meet rising mandate levels, a task made more difficult by limited production capacity and infrastructure gaps.
Supply Agreements Signal Growing Market, But Gaps Remain
Recent supply agreements demonstrate that the SAF market is maturing, with DHL Group announcing a 250,000-ton, 10-year SAF supply partnership with SAF One starting in 2028 from the Middle East’s first dedicated SAF production facility. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Energy continues supporting development of novel SAF pathways from renewable and waste feedstocks through partnerships with biorefiners, reflecting global efforts to scale production. An April 2026 IATA study confirmed sufficient feedstock availability to support aviation’s net zero target by 2050 without triggering adverse land-use changes, offering long-term optimism about supply potential.
Yet these positive signals contrast sharply with current supply constraints. European airlines face immediate pressure to source certified SAF volumes that simply do not yet exist at scale, creating a mismatch between regulatory timelines and industrial capacity. This gap is particularly acute for e-fuels, which face higher production costs and slower infrastructure development compared to bio-based SAF pathways.
Policy Refinements Needed to Align Ambition with Reality
The compliance challenges emerging under ReFuelEU Aviation suggest that policy refinements may be necessary to align regulatory ambition with market realities. Certification procedures must balance rigor with practicality, ensuring that sustainability standards are met without creating insurmountable administrative barriers. Stakeholders are calling for clearer guidance on e-fuel certification pathways, harmonization with international standards, and mechanisms to address short-term supply shortfalls without undermining long-term decarbonization goals.
Sources
- ReFuelEU aviation – Mobility and Transport – European Commission
- Developing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) – IATA
- Sustainable Aviation Fuels | Department of Energy
- What are Sustainable Aviation Fuels? – EASA
Featured image via Unsplash.
