Industry, science and politics came together at the Sustainable Aviation Fuels working group (AG SAF) to discuss climate-friendly aviation at the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV – Bundesministerium für Digitales und Verkehr).
How can the market ramp-up of sustainable aviation fuels in Germany succeed? What regulatory framework conditions are needed and how can they be financed? Around 75 experts from industry, science and politics met on 6 March 2024 at the second in-person meeting of the SAF working group at the BMDV. The working group is part of the federal government’s Climate-neutral Aviation working group (AK KL), active since 2023. The goal of the working group is to promote discussion between stakeholders of the issues around sustainable aviation fuels and to jointly work out recommendations for action for policy-makers.
Johannes Wieczorek, Head of the Sub-department of Climate Protection in Mobility and Environmental Protection in the BMDV: “Sustainable aviation fuels enable us to make aviation more environmentally friendly. In addition to regulatory incentives, such as SAF quotas for those bringing kerosene onto the market in the ReFuelEU aviation regulation, further measures are required to ensure SAF availability on the market. The SAF working group provides the opportunity to bring together different perspectives around the table. This exchange is particularly valuable for us in order to gain insights into the interests and needs of the sector.”
Focus on regulation and financing instruments
The event was organised by the Deutsche Post DHL Group and by the Fuels and Energy Business Association e.V. (en2x), which act as co-chairs of the working group. NOW GmbH supported the meeting as event partners. The event was opened by welcome addresses from Volker Ratzmann (DPDHL Group), Prof. Christian Küchen (en2x) and Johannes Wieczorek (BMDV), who provided information on the current status of funding measures. This was followed by various expert presentations, including a potential analysis from CENA Hessen (Centre of Competence for Climate, Environment and Noise Protection in Aviation), which provides insights into future trends in the global SAF market. The latest EU legislation was also presented concerning sustainable aviation fuels, such as the Renewable Energy Directive III (RED III), or the ReFuel Aviation regulation. Following the presentation of three projects (NetZeroLEJ, HyKero, Concrete Chemicals) from industry representatives, all participants received the opportunity to jointly discuss regulatory matters and financing instruments in interactive workshops.
About NOW GmbH
NOW GmbH has supported the federal government since 2008 in its pursuit of climate and industrial policy goals. The federally-owned company’s tasks include developing, supporting and evaluating funding programmes for climate-neutral mobility and energy supply. NOW GmbH experts supervise projects in the fields of hydrogen, fuel cells, batteries and renewable fuels. They reimagine mobility and fuels for cars, buses, trains, commercial vehicles, ships and planes – and support the establishment and further development of charging infrastructure as well as hydrogen refuelling stations. More information on NOW can be found here.
Further links
- NOW GmbH fact sheet on RED III
- NOW GmbH fact sheet on ReFuelEU Aviation regulation
- Potential analysis on future trends in the global SAF market by CENA Hessen
Image: © NOW GmbH