CLECAT SIGNS JOINT LETTER ON SAF AND BOOK & CLAIM
This week, CLECAT alongside 14 organisations representing the aviation and fuel industry sent a letter to key European Commissioners and Directors-General urging the introduction of additional flexibilities in the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation to ensure the necessary conditions for the decarbonization of air transport.
The letter emphasises the importance of scaling SAF production and supply to decarbonise air transport and meet EU's climate targets. Several market inefficiencies, including limited physical availability of SAF at many airports, delays in investment decisions due to feedstock uncertainties, and the high cost of SAF compared to fossil-based jet fuel hinder the development of sustainable air transport. To overcome these obstacles, the signatories support introducing a "Book & Claim" mechanism to enable market efficiencies between SAF producers, fuel suppliers, and aircraft operators without additional costs to the EU or Member States.
The "Book & Claim" system allows companies to invest in SAF without needing physical delivery to specific locations. Instead, SAF is integrated into local supply chains near production sites, replacing fossil jet fuel and reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions. This system decouples the environmental benefits from the physical fuel, enabling companies to claim emission reductions through certificates, which represent the lifecycle emissions savings from SAF use. This approach promotes more sustainable supply chains, allows for greater flexibility in SAF procurement, and helps scale up SAF production.
The letter urges the Commission to swiftly enact further flexibilities to the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation, aligning with stakeholder consultation findings. It also calls for the Clean Industrial Deal to include measures to incentivise access to financing for SAF production projects in the EU, ensuring SAF availability and affordability. By creating a stable and predictable market framework, the "Book & Claim" system can encourage investment in SAF production, align with the EU's digital transition, and prevent double counting of emissions reductions.