Europe Can Cut Jet Fuel Imports with 9 e-SAF Plants
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- European Union relies on imports for over 95% of its jet fuel, primarily from the Middle East, exposing it to price volatility linked to regional crises.
- ERM conducted a report finding that scaling up domestic e-SAF production could strengthen Europe’s energy sovereignty and reduce emissions.
- Europe would need to build approximately nine e-SAF plants, each with 75 kt annual capacity, to meet 2030 ReFuelEU and UK SAF mandates through domestic production.
- e-SAF production requires significant upfront investment but could deliver substantial long-term economic and social returns if the supply chain is localized in Europe.
- Transport & Environment (T&E) recommends deliberate policy choices to prioritize European-made e-SAF and technology to capture socio-economic benefits domestically.
Why it matters: Meeting 2030 SAF targets through domestic e-SAF plants would require building nine facilities, a move that shifts value from foreign suppliers to European industry and workers—making energy security and job creation dependent on policy decisions now.
