EASA hosts first EU Aviation Fuel Stakeholder Forum

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) hosted the first EU Aviation Fuel Stakeholders Forum on April 18-19, 2024. The event marked the launch of a network of European fuel stakeholders to strengthen cooperation in Europe, with the aspiration of optimising the jet fuel composition to respond to environmental challenges.

One priority is to examine the feasibility of lowering the aromatics and sulphur content of conventional jet fuels; this will support the mitigation of aviation’s impact on the environment, with a particular focus on the effects of non-CO2 emissions on climate. Another key objective of the EU Aviation Fuel Stakeholders Forum is to enable the development of long-term innovative solutions in the field of aviation fuels — in alignment with international stakeholders.

“The aviation sector is fully committed to decreasing its environmental footprint, and it is acting in many different areas (operational improvements, new technologies, alternative fuels, and fuel composition). Research has shown that fuel composition has a direct impact on the amount of non-CO2 emissions produced. These non-CO2 emissions and their impact on climate and local air quality are linked to the level of aromatics and sulphur present in the fuels”, said Maria Rueda, EASA’s Strategy & Safety Management Director. “Even with an increased usage of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), fossil fuels will still have a considerable share in the aviation fuel mix in the coming decades. Therefore, it would be beneficial to consider adjustments to the conventional jet fuel specifications.”

The EU Aviation Fuel Stakeholders Forum derives from the “European body for jet fuel standards and safety certification” pilot project, which was tasked to EASA by the European Parliament. This pilot project has set itself the following ambitious objectives:

• propose options for feasible and effective aromatics/sulphur requirements to minimise non-CO2 climate impacts, by the end of 2024; and
• foster long-term innovative solutions to significantly improve fuel quality through amendments to fuel specifications, by the end of 2025.

The first EU Aviation Fuels Forum was organised by EASA jointly with DG MOVE, and brought together around 60 stakeholders from fuel producers, refineries, aircraft and jet engine manufacturers, as well as academia. The next EU Aviation Fuels Forum is planned to take place in 2024/Q4.