The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has released its 2025 briefing note outlining 2024 reference prices for aviation fuels under the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/2405). This document fulfills EASA’s obligation to annually publish technical reports starting in 2025, as mandated by Article 13 of the regulation. The report provides critical pricing data for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), synthetic fuels, and conventional aviation fuels (CAF) to support EU Member States in calculating penalties for non-compliance with ReFuelEU targets and administering the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) support mechanism. The 2024 Conventional Aviation Fuels (CAF) reference price is set at €734/tonne and the prices for the different types of Sustainable Aviation Fuels are below. These figures will remain unchanged in the full technical report due in September 2025.
The two only categories including market prices are:
- Conventional Aviation Fuels (CAF): €734 per tonne
- Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF): €2,085 per tonne (Aviation biofuel)
The pricing methodology combines real market indices (for CAF and aviation biofuels) and bottom-up production cost modeling for fuels without established markets, such as synthetic SAF and hydrogen-based alternatives. For instance, synthetic aviation fuels average estimated was €7,695 per tonne, advanced aviation biofuels estimate was €2,715 per tonne, and recycled carbon aviation fuels estimated average was €2,280 per tonne. The report emphasizes that 2024 reference prices exclude profit margins and assume “first-of-a-kind” production facilities for synthetic fuels. Importantly, since ReFuelEU’s minimum SAF usage requirements begin in 2025, the 2024 aviation fuels price mirrors CAF at €734/tonne. This foundational data aims to ensure transparency and consistency as the EU transitions toward cleaner aviation energy sources.
Prof. Marina EFTHYMIOU highlighted the importance of this document because the EU’s penalty framework under, ReFuelEU, will use these prices to encourage compliance and investment in greener alternatives. She also encourages stronger incentives and support, especially on e-SAF scaling up.
References:
- EASA. (2025). 2024 Aviation Fuels Reference Prices for ReFuelEU Aviation. https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/document-library/general-publications/2024-aviation-fuels-reference-prices-refueleu-aviation
- Efthymiou, M. (2025). EASA ReFuelEU SAF [LinkedIn post]. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/marinaefthymiou_easa-refueleu-saf-activity-7300459954719571968-sBRC