Sustainable Aviation Fuels: Establishing the EU SAF Clearing House

Challenge

Sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) are a non-conventional drop-in alternative to conventional petroleum-derived hydrocarbons. They replace conventional fossil-based aviation fuel on a 1:1 basis but have a smaller carbon footprint. 

Used as a ‘drop-in’ fuel (a like-for-like replacement material) they are viewed as the most viable route in the short-to-medium-term to reduce aviation’s CO2 emissions and meet regulatory targets.  

The ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation, adopted in 2023, mandates a target of a 2% SAF production in European aviation by 2025, rising to 6% by 2030, and a further increase of up to 70% by 2050. However, SAF currently represent less than 0.05% of total EU aviation fuel use. Furthermore, the supply chain has found scaling volumes to the required commercial levels to be a significant challenge, with new products required to meet strict specifications and follow rigorous testing before they can be used in commercial aircraft.

Approach

Working alongside fellow consortium members - Trinity College Dublin, Intertek, Politecnico di Torino, ENVISA, and Spark Legal and Policy Consulting – Ricardo experts established a network of European and international testing facilities to provide guidance to fuel producers in assessing the environmental impacts of their products and in meeting strict eligibility criteria. 

Like its counterparts in the US and UK, the EU SAF Clearing House will support the approval of new SAF pathways using the ASTM D4054 process: the recognised industry Standard Practice for evaluating new aviation fuels and additives by acting as a virtual forum for advice on data quality, testing facilities and qualification. This will reduce the high cost and complexity of certification and is seen as key to unlocking higher volumes and encouraging a variety of feedstocks.

The EU SAF Clearing House will also provide sustainability services for prospective fuel producers and focus on nurturing a mature SAF supply chain in Europe, participating at technical events, advising on research and innovation, and promoting policy coherence.

 
Results

The Clearing House represents an important milestone in the journey to a cleaner, more sustainable aviation sector in Europe. The certification of new fuels, for example, will unlock new opportunities for SAF production and the diversification of feedstocks.

In July 2024, CATAGEN LIMITED - a Net Zero Technologies company - become the first sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supplier to submit a sample to the EU SAF Clearing House for testing. The fuel is being developed from wind, water and air (e-SAF) and wind and sustainable organic waste (bio-SAF). 

EU SAF Clearing House celebrates 2025 achievements 

In 2025, the EU SAF Clearing House solidified its role as a pivotal enabler for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) across Europe. This landmark year saw the initiative launch publicly, engage fuel producers, and advance critical services amid robust European Union (EU) policy momentum, such as ReFuelEU Aviation's mandates.​​

Core pillars recap

The EU SAF Clearing House is a project funded by the European Union and implemented by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). It serves as a vital one-stop shop dedicated to removing barriers and accelerating the deployment of SAF in the EU and internationally. The EU SAF Clearing House delivers targeted support through four specialised service pillars, directly addressing key hurdles in SAF development and deployment.

First, it provides rapid, iterative pre-screening of SAF products for conformity to existing ASTM D7566 annexes or pathways to qualification through ASTM D4054, helping producers spot issues early and streamline certification.

Second, it offers comprehensive support, including cost assistance, to SAF technology developers seeking regulatory approval under ASTM D4054, accelerating the journey to commercial use.

Third, it delivers full sustainability assessments and certification guidance for producers and developers, verifying low-carbon credentials against international frameworks.

Fourth, it champions SAF growth by explaining regulatory challenges, deployment opportunities, and policy insights to producers, developers, policymakers, EU institutions, and aviation stakeholders.

2025 milestones unpacked

The year kicked off with the EU SAF Clearing House presenting all its services publicly, marking its transition from implementation to active operations and broadening access for global SAF players.​

A standout spring webinar with 133 attendees drew diverse stakeholders to discuss real-world challenges, fostering knowledge exchange and building momentum for collaborative solutions.​A recording of the webinar is available here.

Fuel producer engagement surged, reflecting growing confidence in the Clearing House's support services.​ Four companies – Catagen, Synhelion, Visolis and BTG Bioliquids – have already completed pre-screening testing of their fuels. More than ten additional producers are currently engaged at various stages of the process, including Liquid Sun and Metafuels.

The EU SAF Clearing House's standardisation campaign launched as a collaborative powerhouse. Uniting other Clearing Houses and the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) group, the initiative has mobilised a global network of 14 testing houses across the EU, UK, USA and Asia. This coordinated effort is designed to streamline qualification for novel SAFs and accelerate the introduction of new fuel production technologies into the market.

Additionally, the campaign included developing a standardised research report template, designed to streamline the assessment of new SAFs undergoing the OEM Phase 1 Internal Review under ASTM D4054. The template reduces the OEM review burden and provides clear guidance to SAF producers on meeting OEM expectations - an essential improvement given the diverse, complex production pathways and feedstocks involved in SAF development.

The EU SAF Clearing House published a set of guidance materials (available here and here) to support fuel producers in navigating the sustainability requirements for SAF under both the EU policy framework and the global CORSIA scheme. These materials outline the key steps involved in achieving fuel sustainability verification and certification.

In addition, the programme delivered tailored advisory support to five fuel producers, including Liquid Sun, Metafuels, and Circularity Fuels, and is cooperating with the Mission Possible Partnership and the Industrial Transition Accelerator to assist the pipeline of fuel projects supported by the initiative. These producers represented a diverse range of commercialisation stages, production technologies, feedstocks, and geographical regions.

EU-Wide SAF momentum

These accomplishments aligned seamlessly with broader EU policy advances under ReFuelEU Aviation, which imposed a 2% SAF blending mandate at EU airports in 2025, ramping up to 6% by 2030 and keeping the bloc on track for decarbonisation goals.

A €2.9 billion Sustainable Transport Investment Plan mobilised funds through InvestEU, Horizon Europe, and the Innovation Fund, alongside an e-SAF Early Movers Coalition of eight member states committing €500 million for auctions. The European Commission also committed to supporting the operationalisation of the EU SAF Clearing House by establishing a collaborative network of regional centres of excellence, to complement the Alliance for Zero Emission Aviation. All these efforts will continue to drive SAF production growth and uptake.

Getting involved with EU SAF CH

Fuel producers, testing houses, airlines, and other stakeholders:

Visit https://www.eusafclearinghouse.eu/ or reach out at info@eusafclearinghouse.eu to engage with us, find out more about our services, or explore partnerships.​​ The pre‑screening service is ongoing and open to new applicants. Fuel producers interested in support from the EU SAF Clearing House can submit an expression of interest to begin the process.

Together, we're powering aviation's net-zero future.