European Commission to support SAF development around the world

The European Commission announced May 24 support for the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) under the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Capacity-building and Training for Sustainable Aviation Fuels program (ACT-SAF).

In line with the European Green Deal commitment to help partner countries decarbonize, the project will support selected countries with 4 million euros (USD$4.3 billion).

The funding will go towards increasing SAF production, feasibility studies and assistance with the certification of these fuels.

Implemented by ICAO and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the project involves 12 partner states: Cameroon, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, India, Kenya, Mauritania, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal and South Africa.

This list may be expanded at a later stage.

“We estimate that the SAF market will create more than 200,000 additional jobs in the EU and expect similar benefits for partner countries ramping up their production of sustainable aviation fuels,” said Adina Vălean, the European commissioner for transport. “The EU will continue supporting its partners in their decarbonization efforts. No country must be left behind as we take global aviation into a new era.”

Juan Carlos Salazar, ICAO secretary general, added: “This new project responds to the global consensus that we need to take concrete actions now to achieve truly sustainable international air connectivity. Access to cleaner energy sources will be a prerequisite to achieve this long-term global goal, and all states have a part to play in realizing that access through new production and distribution capabilities.”

ICAO stated that the ACT-SAF project is an important step towards a more sustainable aviation sector and a cleaner planet.

“Sustainable aviation fuels have great potential to decarbonize aviation,” the organization stated.

Within the EU, the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation promotes ramping up the use of SAF.