Proposed by the European Commission in 2021, the ReFuelEU Aviation framework is part of the EU’s “Fit for 55” climate package, which aims to cut EU greenhouse-gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030.

The regulation is designed to support the scale-up of low-carbon aviation fuels, including eSAF produced using renewable hydrogen.

In an announcement, the EU’s transport arm reaffirmed the penalties and obligations outlined in the ReFuelEU Aviation initiative after reports they may be scrapped.

The post follows policy discussions around the need for clear penalties for missing fuel quotas under the mandates, which dictate that at least 10% of aviation fuel must come from SAF by 2030, with a target of up to 70% by 2050.

While questions around the mandate’s viability remain, the policy direction now stays the same.

In a LinkedIn post, EU Transport said, “Enforcement mechanisms, including penalties and obligations…are key design features of the regulation.”

The mandate is expected to support the growth of eSAF produced from green hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide, a pathway seen as critical for decarbonising long-haul aviation.

The same announcement said momentum is already building, with more than €100m in SAF being made available to airlines under the European Union Emissions Trading System in 2025.

The clarification comes as companies across Europe scale up industrial e-fuel projects expected to meet demand created by the ReFuelEU regulation.