Aviation regulator EASA has launched Europe’s first Sustainable Aviation Fuel Clearing House, led by environmental and engineering consulting firm Ricardo. The facility aims to remove market entry barriers for cleaner fuel products in the global aviation sector.
Working alongside consortium members Trinity College Dublin, Intertek, Politecnico di Torino, ENVISA, and Spark Legal and Policy Consulting, Ricardo is to establish a network of European and international testing facilities. The consortium will guide fuel producers in assessing the environmental impacts of their Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) products and how to meet eligibility criteria for the fuel.
The EU SAF Clearing House has already received its first sustainable aviation fuel and is currently testing it.
Maria Rueda, EASA’s strategy and safety management director said, “The demand for SAF will grow ever more rapidly to meet the goals set in the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation and increasingly reduce the emissions from aviation. Via the EU SAF Clearing House, EASA wants to ensure that the fuel industry gets the support needed to succeed in developing SAF for aviation, so that their innovation efforts are not in vain and more SAF is brought to the market.”
SAFs are alternatives to conventional petroleum-derived hydrocarbons, offering a smaller carbon footprint. They are viewed as the most viable short-to-medium-term solution to reduce aviation’s CO2 emissions and meet regulatory targets.
The ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation, adopted in 2023, mandates a target of 2% SAF production in European aviation by 2025, rising to 6% by 2030, and up to 70% by 2050. However, SAF currently represents less than 0.05% of total EU aviation fuel use.
The EU SAF Clearing House will support the approval of new SAF pathways using the ASTM D4054 process, the recognized industry standard for evaluating new aviation fuels and additives. This approach aims to reduce the cost and complexity of certification, encouraging increased production and a variety of feedstocks.
Dr. Rui Neiva, principal consultant for sustainable transport at Ricardo and programme manager for the EU SAF Clearing House said, “The Clearing House will be an important milestone in the journey to a cleaner, more sustainable aviation sector in Europe. The certification of new fuels will unlock new opportunities for SAF production and the diversification of feedstocks.”
The EU SAF Clearing House is now open to applications, primarily from fuel producers. Interested stakeholders can visit the dedicated website
