Aviation's climate partnership: The government must invest in the market

In order to realize the ambition of green aviation, more sustainable jet fuel must be produced. Today there is absolutely not enough fuel on the market.

Aviation's climate partnership has today handed over recommendations to the climate minister, Lars Aagaard, about the potential for low-aromatic fuel and sustainable jet fuel.

As part of the political agreement "The road to green aviation", the government, SF and Enhedslisten have set aside a pool of DKK 1.1 billion, which will go towards the green transformation of aviation. According to the agreement, the funds can be used, among other things, for low-aromatic jet fuel and sustainable jet fuel.

Sustainable jet fuel produced in Denmark
When it comes to sustainable jet fuel, there is not enough fuel on the market today. Producers and buyers find it difficult to make ends meet so that production can be started. There is therefore a need for government help to make the projects financially viable.

Chairman of the climate partnership, Anko van der Werff, CEO of SAS, states:
"Aviation is facing a big and very important task of restructuring. It must take place at a pace and a cadence that makes it possible for all actors in the value chain and the government to stand side by side and take a big step towards making aviation more sustainable. We have therefore today recommended that the government allocate DKK 987 million to a pool that will support the establishment of a Danish production of sustainable jet fuel, such as power-to-x-based jet fuel.

Study can pave the way for low-aromatic fuel
In addition to recommendations on sustainable jet fuel, the aviation climate partnership also recommends that the government investigate the possibilities of expanding low-aromatic jet fuel, which can potentially have climate and environmental benefits.

Deputy chairman of the climate partnership, Christian Poulsen CEO of Copenhagen Airport, says:
"There are several paths to green aviation, and we therefore agree to recommend that the government initiate an investigation into what is needed to get low-aromatic fuel out to our airports. The low-aromatic fuel is both better for the climate, because it causes fewer condensation streaks, and for the environment and neighbors of the airports, because it emits fewer particles. If it turns out that it is possible to create a sustainable solution for the use of low-aromatic fuel, we propose to spend DKK 135 million to reduce the aromatic content over a period of time. We expect that this will be able to contribute to reducing the local emission of particles around the airports. At the same time, it is important that the government works to ensure that the EU pushes development by deciding on a gradual reduction of the aromatic content".

A unified value chain backs up the recommendations
It is not just the climate partnership that is handing over recommendations to the government today. There are also a number of key actors on the producer side who are behind recommendations. They do this, among other things, because Denmark has unique opportunities to produce sustainable jet fuel. With the right incentives and framework conditions, far more green aviation fuel can be produced in Denmark in 2030 than all Danish domestic flights require. There is therefore enormous export potential for Denmark and Danish companies.

Karsten Lauritzen, DI Transport, says:
"Our recommendations are supported by some of the manufacturers who will actually be involved in getting the green fuel onto the market. In the climate partnership, we have worked actively to ensure that today we could present some recommendations that the entire value chain agrees on. We need to stand together on the challenges that are currently are on the market, just as the solutions must also be found jointly between the industries and the government. We are really looking forward to that work."

Fact:
Aviation's climate partnership is one of the government's climate partnerships. The aviation climate partnership has been very active and has advised the government on several key areas with relevance to the green transformation of aviation.

Members of the aviation climate partnership
SAS, Copenhagen Airport, Norwegian, DAT, Sunclass Airlines, Billund Airport, Aalborg Airport, Aarhus Airport, DI Transport, Maersk Air Cargo, 3F Transport, Flyvebranches Personnel Union, Dansk Metal, Naviair, The Council for Green Transition, Southern Denmark University, NISA, NIRAS, Drivkraft Danmark, Ørsted and Haldor Topsøe.

The recommendations are also supported by a number of leading players; DCC Shell Aviation, European Energy, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Arcadia eFuels and Kalundborg Refinery.