Green fuels: Europe lags behind the United States

European airlines are urging the EU to adopt similar measures to the US to accelerate the production of sustainable aviation fuels.

Share:

Carburants verts retard Europe USA

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90€/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90€/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 €/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99€/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 €/year from the second year.

The EU’s major airlines, grouped under the umbrella of Airlines for Europe (A4E), are warning of the delay in the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) in Europe. By comparison, the United States, thanks to itsInflation Reduction Act(IRA), is making rapid progress. Lufthansa’s Carsten Spohr stresses the need for strong incentives, similar to those in the USA, to stimulate European SAF production.

European constraints and challenges

The European Union has set progressive quotas for the integration of FAS in kerosene, with a target of 2% by 2025, rising to 70% by 2050. However, IAG’s Luis Gallego points to insufficient SAF production in Europe, unable to meet future needs. In his view, the lack of investment and construction of SAF plants in Europe is alarming.

Implications for the airline industry

European airline executives, from Ryanair to Air France-KLM, are expressing concern about the industry’s ability to meet the EU’s FAS mandates. They highlight the risk to the sector’s competitiveness, underlining the urgent need for concrete action. The aim of the Brussels meeting was to raise awareness of these crucial issues among the future European Commission.

Sector-specific requests

A4E calls for protective measures against air traffic strikes, proposing extended notice periods for union strikes and individual declarations. These requests follow a year marked by major disruptions. We also reiterate our call for a reform of European air traffic control, envisaging fuel savings and time gains.

SAF, a strategic challenge

The commitment to SAF illustrates the airline industry’s determination to contribute to the fight against climate change. However, the success of this energy transition requires close collaboration between airlines, governments and the European Union, to overcome current and future challenges.

The production of sustainable aviation fuels remains a major challenge for Europe, which is seeking to align its ecological ambitions with industrial and economic realities. European airlines play a key role in this transition, calling for concerted action to secure a greener future for the airline industry.

The announced merger between Anglo American and Teck forms Anglo Teck, a new copper-focused leader structured for growth, with a no-premium share structure and a $4.5bn special dividend.
Voltalia launches a transformation programme targeting a return to profit from 2026, built on a refocus of activities, a new operating structure and self-financed growth of 300 to 400 MW per year.
Ineos Energy ends all projects in the UK, citing unstable taxation and soaring energy costs, and redirects its investments to the US, where the company has just allocated £3bn to new assets.
Eskom forecasts a load-shedding-free summer after covering 97% of winter demand, supported by 4000 MW added capacity and reduced operating expenses.
GE Vernova will cut 600 jobs in Europe, with the Belfort gas turbine site in France particularly affected, amid financial growth and strategic reorganisation.
SOLV Energy expands its nationwide services in the United States with the acquisitions of Spartan Infrastructure and SDI Services, consolidating its presence across all independent power markets.
Tokenised asset platform Plural secures $7.13mn to accelerate financing of distributed infrastructure including solar, storage, and data centres.
Santander Alternative Investments has invested in Corinex to accelerate the deployment of its smart grid solutions, aiming to address growing utility needs in Europe and the Americas.
Driven by grid modernisation and industrial automation, the global control transformer market could reach $1.48bn in 2030, with projections indicating steady growth in energy-intensive sectors.
A report from energy group Edison highlights structural barriers slowing renewable deployment in Italy, threatening its ability to meet 2030 decarbonisation targets.
ADNOC Group CEO Dr Sultan Al Jaber has been named 2025 CEO of the Year by his global chemical industry peers, recognising his role in the company’s industrial expansion and international investments.
Swedish renewable energy developer OX2 has appointed Matthias Taft as its new chief executive officer, succeeding Paul Stormoen, who led the company since 2011 and will now join the board of directors.
Driven by distributed solar and offshore wind, renewable energy investments rose 10% year-on-year despite falling financing for large-scale projects.
Australian Oilseeds Holdings was granted a deadline extension until 30 September to comply with the Nasdaq’s equity requirements, avoiding immediate delisting from the exchange.
Fermi America has closed $350mn in financing led by Macquarie to accelerate the development of its HyperGridâ„¢ energy campus, focused on artificial intelligence and high-performance data applications.
Soluna Holdings launched two energy projects in Texas, reaching one gigawatt of cumulative capacity for its data centres, marking a new stage in the development of computing infrastructure powered by renewable energy.
Eneco’s Supervisory Board has appointed Martijn Hagens as the next Chief Executive Officer. He will succeed interim CEO Kees Jan Rameau, effective from 1 March 2026.
With $28 billion in planned investments, hyperscaler expansion in Japan reshapes grid planning amid rising tensions between digital growth and infrastructure capacity.
The suspension of the Revolution Wind farm triggers a sharp decline in Ørsted’s stock, now trading at around 26 USD, increasing the financial stakes for the group amid a capital increase.
Hydro-Québec reports net income of C$2.3 billion in the first half of 2025, up more than 20%, driven by a harsh winter and an effective arbitrage strategy on external markets.

Log in to read this article

You'll also have access to a selection of our best content.