EU Releases SAF Reference Prices, Highlighting Cost Gap with Conventional Jet Fue
On March 9, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) published the briefing note “2025 Aviation Fuels Reference Prices for ReFuelEU Aviation,” providing key benchmark prices for aviation fuels used within the European Union. The figures will support the implementation of the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation and related policy mechanisms promoting sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).
According to the briefing, the 2025 reference price for conventional aviation fuel (CAF) is estimated at around €734 per tonne. In comparison, bio-based SAF produced through pathways such as HEFA is estimated at approximately €2,085 per tonne, while synthetic aviation fuels (e-SAF), produced through power-to-liquid technologies, reach about €7,695 per tonne.
The data highlights the significant cost gap between sustainable and conventional aviation fuels. Bio-based SAF currently costs roughly three times more than traditional jet fuel, while e-SAF can be more than ten times more expensive. This price difference remains one of the key barriers to the large-scale adoption of SAF across the aviation sector.
EASA emphasized that these figures are reference prices rather than market prices. Their primary purpose is to support regulatory implementation. Under the ReFuelEU Aviation framework, fuel suppliers that fail to meet SAF blending requirements may face financial penalties calculated partly based on the price gap between SAF and conventional jet fuel.
The reference prices will also play a role in the European Union’s carbon market support mechanisms. Within the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), financial incentives for SAF use may be determined using the same price benchmarks.
EASA noted that the briefing serves as a pre-publication document ahead of the agency’s first comprehensive technical report scheduled for release in September 2026. That report will evaluate compliance with the ReFuelEU Aviation regulation and provide a broader assessment of SAF market development across EU member states.
As Europe accelerates aviation decarbonization efforts, these reference prices are expected to play a critical role in shaping both regulatory enforcement and market support mechanisms for sustainable aviation fuels. ✈️🌱