The European Union Aviation Safety Agency released its 2025 technical report on the ReFuelEU Aviation regulation. The data confirms that the mandatory 2% sustainable aviation fuel target was exceeded, reaching 2.8% of total aviation fuel supply. This represents an increase from 0.6% in 2024, with approximately 1.1 million tonnes of sustainable fuel supplied at EU airports.
Despite the growth in volume, the supply chain remains heavily reliant on waste feedstocks. Used cooking oil accounts for 80% of the supply, while Category 3 animal fats and palm-oil mill effluent make up 11% and 6% respectively. Furthermore, 85% of the feedstocks used for production are imported, with China remaining the primary source, compared to 69% in the previous year.
The report highlights a lack of progress in synthetic aviation fuel production. Although there are approximately 60 e-SAF projects in development across Europe, none have reached a final investment decision. Experts suggest that implementing EU-wide double-sided auctions could help aggregate demand and reduce investment risks to move these projects toward commercial operation.
