Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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131. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures that are in place to regulate and monitor the composition of aviation fuel sold in Ireland in order to calculate more accurately the contribution of aviation to climate change. [60164/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I am advised that aviation fuel is certified for use by the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) and is produced to a global standard. This fuel is typically kerosene jet fuels (e.g. Jet A/A-1, JP5, JP8) for jet aircraft and aviation gasoline for light aircraft.

The ASTM D1655 standard outlines all the properties required for conventional (petroleum-based) fuels including aromatic and sulphur content, density, freezing point, low heating value and others. The ASTM D7566 standard governs non-petroleum hydrocarbon fuels, such as sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), and also includes the approved conversion processes and blending limits for different synthetic aviation fuels. The appropriate fuel to be used in an aircraft is specified in the EASA approved Aircraft Type Certificate that is applicable to individual aircraft types (eg Airbus A320, Boeing 737-800). 

In the Irish context, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administers the Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) which requires Aircraft operators to report their emissions of CO2 annually. This is based on the tonnes of fuel combusted by the aircraft multiplied by an emission factor (tonnes CO2/t fuel). The aircraft operator reports the type of fuel used (e.g. Jet Kerosene A /Jet-A-1, Jet-B or Av-Gas) and how many tonnes of each.  

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 use of SAF is currently at very low levels but there are a number of different strands of work both at national and EU level that are being pursued to improve this position.  The proposed EU Regulation commonly referred to as ReFuelEU Aviation is currently being considered by the European Council and the Parliament.  When adopted the Regulation is expected to impose mandated obligations on fuel suppliers, airlines, and airports in relation to the distribution, use and accessibility of SAF similar to renewable fuels in road transport.

The Renewable Fuel for Transport Policy 2021 proposes incentives for supply of SAFs through the issue of multiple certificates under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), subject to enabling legislation. Following consultation on this Policy this year 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 will be from biofuels blending, 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 National and EU targets.

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.