EU Takes Bold Steps to Double Renewable Energy and Decarbonize Aviation

The European Council has made a significant stride towards achieving its ambitious climate goals with the adoption of two critical pieces of legislation. These new laws form part of the European Commission's "Fit for 55" roadmap, a strategy designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. The recently approved directives aim to nearly double the share of renewable energy consumption within the EU by 2030 and accelerate the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to decarbonize the aviation sector.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised the legislation's adoption, highlighting its alignment with the European Green Deal and its ability to reduce CO² emissions while considering the interests of citizens and European industry. Von der Leyen also noted that Europe is on track to surpass its ambitious emissions reduction target.

Renewable Energy Directive

A central component of the legislative package is the Renewables Energy Directive, which outlines a comprehensive plan to bolster the role of renewable energy within the European energy landscape. Under this directive, renewable energy must comprise 42.5% of the EU's total energy consumption by 2030. Furthermore, EU Member States are encouraged to work collectively to achieve an indicative renewable energy target of 45%. This represents a significant increase from the EU's prior 2030 target of 32%.

The Renewables Energy Directive introduces sector-specific sub-targets aimed at accelerating the adoption of renewable energy in industries where progress has been slower. These sub-targets include:

• Achieving at least a 49% renewable energy share in buildings by 2030.
• Gradually increasing renewable targets for cooling and heating.
• A 14.5% reduction in transport sector emissions by 2030 through enhanced renewables deployment.
• Requiring industry to boost the use of renewable energy by 1.6% annually.
• A mandate for 42% of the hydrogen used in industry to be sourced from renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBOs) by 2030, and 60% by 2035.

Teresa Ribera, Spanish acting Minister for the Ecological Transition, hailed these developments as crucial for reaching the EU's climate objectives and ensuring a fair, cost-effective, and competitive transition.

ReFuelEU Aviation Law

The second key legislation adopted is the "ReFuelEU aviation" law, which aims to catalyze the demand and supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Given that fuel constitutes a substantial portion of aviation emissions, transitioning to SAF is a pivotal step in decarbonizing the aviation sector.

SAF, typically produced from sustainable resources like waste oils and agricultural residues, can result in significant lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions reductions, potentially up to 85% compared to conventional fuels.

To achieve this, the law mandates minimum blends of SAF for fuel suppliers, with requirements for aircraft operators and airports. Fuel suppliers will need to reach a 70% minimum share of SAF at EU airports by 2050, along with a minimum share of synthetic fuels from 2030 onward.

Rules for aircraft operators include refueling flights departing from EU airports only with the fuel necessary for the journey. This regulation aims to prevent additional weight from unnecessary fuel and carbon leakage through "tankering," where airlines carry extra fuel to bypass refueling at airports with higher SAF requirements.

The law also introduces a labelling scheme to inform consumers about aircraft operators' environmental performance when using SAF, discouraging greenwashing and promoting environmentally responsible flying choices.

Raquel Sánchez Jiménez, Spanish acting Minister of Transport, Mobility, and Urban Agenda, welcomed the law's legal clarity for both aircraft operators and fuel suppliers, highlighting its potential to make the EU's aviation sector significantly greener and contribute to broader climate targets.

With the European Council's approval, these laws are set to be published in the EU's Official Journal for subsequent implementation, marking a significant stride towards a more sustainable and environmentally responsible future for Europe.

President von der Leyen summed up the achievement by stating, "This is an important sign to Europe and to our global partners that the green transition is possible, that Europe is delivering on its promises."