On Wednesday 14 July, the European Commission presented the ‘ReFuelEU Aviation’ (see EUROPE 12760/4) and ‘FuelEU Maritime’ sections of its ‘Fit For 55’ package, which is expected to lead to a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. These regulations are intended to reduce CO2 emissions in the aviation and maritime sectors.
For example, in the aviation sector - where decarbonisation is complicated by the lack of aircraft running entirely on alternative fuels - the European Commission intends to require fuel suppliers to include an increasing share of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) in the energy mix.
By 2025, the share of SAF in the fuel supplied should be 2%. This figure will gradually increase to 5% in 2030, 20% in 2035, 32% in 2040, 38% in 2045 and 63% by 2050. A sub-target for synthetic fuel is also included in each five-year stage.
“Alternative fuels represent less than 0.01% of the fuels used in aviation. We want to reach 5% by 2030. This may not sound like much, but it means a 50-fold increase in less than 10 years”, stressed Commissioner for Transport Adina-Ioana Vălean.
Alternative fuels and less polluting equipment will be promoted through favourable tax measures. The taxation of aviation fuels will gradually increase over a period of 10 years to reach a minimum rate of 10.75 euros/GigaJoule throughout the EU. Sustainable fuels will be taxed at a zero rate.
Airports in the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) will have to be able to supply electricity to aircraft on the ground by 2025, and it will have to come from the electricity grid or from renewable energy produced on site by 2030.
Standards will also be introduced to prevent ‘tankering’, where tonnes of excess fuel are carried to avoid refuelling at European airports, where legislation may be stricter than in some third countries. Maximum thresholds will have to be set.
“With these targets, 92% of sustainable aviation fuel could eventually be produced in the EU, and almost 200,000 jobs could be created”, Vălean said.
In addition, the EU Aviation Safety Agency, the Member States, and the European Commission will have to report regularly on the progress of the deployment of this Regulation.
Priority to shore power
As with the aviation sector, the maritime sector is also heavily dependent on fossil fuels. The European Commission’s plan includes setting limits on the greenhouse gas intensity of energy used in ships.
Greenhouse gas intensity on board will be capped at 2% by 2025, 6% by 2030, 13% by 2035, 26% by 2040, 59% by 2045 and 75% by 2050.
“A single cruise ship emits as much CO2 per day as 80,000 cars”, insisted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
TEN-T infrastructure and seaports will have to install electricity to meet the demand of at least 90% of the container and passenger ships calling on them.
At least one shore-side electrical installation will also have to be installed in each TEN-T inland port.
Passenger ships and container ships will be required to use shore power. Exemptions will be provided in cases where it can be demonstrated that zero-emission technology is being used. Several energies fall into this category, such as liquid biofuels, decarbonised gas and hydrogen.
“This approach will affect more than half of international travel and all European travel. All flags will be required to respect it. The companies concerned will have to carry out checks and follow up”, said a senior European official.
See the European Commission’s proposal for ReFuelEU Aviation: https://bit.ly/2TbLqv5
See the European Commission’s proposal for FuelEU Maritime: https://bit.ly/3B08myl (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)