Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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196. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the plans that he has to initiate domestic development and production of sustainable aviation fuel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58948/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) will play a key part in decarbonising the aviation sector and meeting ambitious EU targets for future renewable energy in aviation.

The European Union’s ‘Fit for 55’ package of climate measures, which are currently being negotiated, include measures to mandate the use of increasing levels of blended SAF between 2025 and 2050, including the introduction of a synthetic aviation fuel sub-mandate in 2030 within the ReFuelEU Aviation initiative. When adopted the Regulation will impose obligations on fuel suppliers, airlines, and airports in relation to the distribution, use and accessibility of SAF. This will be an important signal to the market to stimulate demand.

The Renewable Fuel for Transport Policy 2021 proposes incentives for supply of SAFs through the issue of multiple certificates for its supply under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), subject to enabling legislation. I am also currently examining the future requirements for the use of SAFs in the aviation sector within the context of the next iteration of the Renewable Transport Fuel Policy Statement 2023-2035, which I will publish next year.

The potential of Green Hydrogen, using new renewable energy, will be a key factor in SAF production in the next decade. The Department of Environment, Climate and Communications is developing a national Hydrogen Strategy for publication this year, which will help inform developments in this area.

In the shorter-term supply of sustainable aviation fuels is through known biofuel technologies, which will potentially compete with road transport demand for such fuels and their feedstocks. My department recently published the Biofuel Study Report, by Byrne O'Cleirigh consultants, concerning the sustainability and availability of biofuels to meet future transport energy consumption. The Report indicates that with planned commercial investment in production of biofuels, Ireland can meet its projected 2030 consumption of biofuels in the road transport sector as envisaged under the Climate Action Plan targets. The Report also recommends the need for greater oversight concerning sustainability in the global supply of biofuels and a need for supply of more advanced biofuels in addition to planned renewable electricity within Ireland's mix of transport energy consumption.

My department intends to carry out further research into renewable fuels, with the aviation sector in mind, and has set aside €200,000 in its 2023 climate action research budget for research and innovation concerning SAFs. The first step will be to scope the research project, complementing emerging and on-going national and international research in this area. The project scope will also be informed by the developing policy context in the forthcoming Hydrogen Strategy for Ireland and the ReFuelEU Aviation initiative, as well as industry led-initiatives such as the Shannon Estuary Taskforce and the European low-carbon fuels value chain industrial alliance.