The recently published ReFuelEU Aviation Annual Technical Report 2025 by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) offers a comprehensive overview of SAF adoption across the EU, while Ireland’s own Sustainable Aviation Fuel Policy Roadmap, launched in August 2025, sets out a national framework to support SAF uptake and future production.
The EASA report, based on 2024 data, marks the first full year of reporting under the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation (EU 2023/2405). Although the mandatory 2% SAF blending requirement only came into force in 2025, the 2024 data provides a critical baseline. Across the EU, 192,700 tonnes of SAF were supplied to Union airports, representing just 0.60% of total aviation fuel volumes. Nearly all of this SAF was biofuel derived from used cooking oil (UCO), achieving an average 91% reduction in lifecycle CO₂ emissions compared to conventional jet fuel.
Ireland’s performance in this inaugural reporting period reflects its early-stage engagement with SAF. The country does not yet produce SAF domestically, and no SAF was reported as supplied to Irish airports in 2024. However, the publication of Ireland’s SAF Policy Roadmap signals a shift in ambition. Developed by the Department of Transport and supported by a newly established Sustainable Aviation Fuel Task Force, the Roadmap outlines four strategic pathways: market certainty, collaboration, supporting uptake, and supporting production.
The Roadmap acknowledges the unique challenges facing aviation decarbonisation, particularly the absence of scalable alternatives to liquid fuels. It identifies key barriers to SAF deployment in Ireland, including the lack of domestic production capacity, limited infrastructure, and high costs. To address these, the Roadmap proposes actions such as incentivising SAF imports, exploring feedstock availability, and supporting feasibility studies for production facilities.
One such initiative is Simply Blue Group’s plan to develop SAF production capacity in Ireland, with a target of 300,000 tonnes annually across international projects. While details of the Irish component remain undisclosed, this signals growing industry interest. The Roadmap also commits to aligning Ireland’s SAF strategy with EU policy instruments like the ReFuelEU Regulation and the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II), ensuring compatibility with sustainability criteria and emissions accounting frameworks.
The EASA report highlights the importance of scaling up SAF production to meet future targets. By 2030, the EU mandates a 6% SAF share, rising to 20% by 2035. Current projections suggest that domestic EU production may fall short of these targets, especially for synthetic aviation fuels, which remain in the early stages of development. None of the synthetic fuel projects in the EU have reached Final Investment Decision (FID), and several have been cancelled or delayed.
Ireland’s Roadmap does not yet commit to specific production targets but positions the country to participate in the emerging SAF market. The Task Force will continue to engage with stakeholders, including airlines, airports, fuel suppliers, and academia, to refine policy and identify investment opportunities. The Roadmap is intended as a living document, with future iterations expected to incorporate evolving technologies, market dynamics, and EU regulatory developments.
As Ireland begins to chart its course toward sustainable aviation, collaboration with EU partners and proactive policy development will be key. The SAF Policy Roadmap lays the groundwork for a greener future in Irish aviation, but its success will depend on translating ambition into action.
