Germany aims to become a leading sustainable jet fuel production center and attract investment to strengthen its position as one of Airbus' major planemaking centers, according to Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The European Parliament recently approved a deal to enforce binding targets for airlines in Europe to increase their use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), which have net zero or lower CO2 emissions than fossil fuel kerosene.
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German energy company HH2E has joined forces with logistics company DHL and South African firm Sasol to explore hydrogen-powered SAF production in Germany, and Airbus is considering joining the consortium. Scholz acknowledged the challenging nature of the EU targets and the need to avoid distorting competition with non-EU countries with less stringent targets.
He also called for rules to detect carbon leakage early to prevent high-emission industries from leaving Europe for less regulated regions. German investment is being targeted for the development of a potential new plane to replace the Airbus single-aisle.
Hamburg is home to the company's best-selling single-aisle family, and Scholz hopes to see further investment in aviation throughout Germany as part of the plan. Airbus expanded production of the same series in Toulouse, France, in July to meet rising demand. Scholz's comments reflect Germany's desire to maintain a significant role and access to high-tech jobs in the new generation of jets set to be introduced around the middle of the next decade. An Airbus spokesperson welcomed Scholz's backing for aviation and its decarbonization trajectory, both in terms of funding and regulatory support.