Europe Risks Losing Its Early E-Fuels Lead for Aviation, Study Warns - CleanTechnica

A new study by Transport & Environment (T&E) highlights Europe’s potential to lead in the production of e-kerosene (also known as e-SAF), a scalable sustainable aviation fuel capable of reducing CO₂ emissions by over 90% compared to fossil kerosene. Europe currently hosts more than half of the world’s announced e-kerosene production capacity, with around 40 large-scale projects planned that could produce nearly 3 million tonnes annually—about 5% of Europe’s aviation fuel needs. This early lead has been driven by the EU’s ReFuelEU law, which sets targets for sustainable aviation fuel use. However, despite these announcements, none of the large-scale plants are under construction, only four projects are at an advanced stage, and none have reached final investment decisions (FID). The slow progress is largely due to financing challenges and the notable absence of traditional fuel suppliers from the market. The study warns that without increased investment and a stable legal framework, Europe risks