Objective

To promote the development of a Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) industry in Spain through the implementation of value chains, using sustainable feedstock according to the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED).
To contribute to the objectives of the EU RED and ICAO:

• Employ at least a 14% of energy from renewable sources in the transport sector by 2030.
• Achieve a significant replacement of conventional jet fuel by SAF in 2050.

Description

The Spanish Bioqueroseno initiative is a national program, led by the Spanish government involving actors from the full value chain in a public-private cooperation.

It provides a framework among regulators and stakeholders and facilitates synergies among industrial partners in the domestic and international contexts.

It has its origin after the first ICAO International Conference on Alternative Aviation Fuels held in 2009. After two years of work (2010 and 2011) with stakeholders, it was formalized in 2011, with an agreement between different Ministries at that time such as as Transportation (through AESA), Energy (through the IDAE), Environment (MAGRAMA), the State company SENASA and various stakeholders.

In 2019 the Spanish Government proposed the establishment of a SAF supply obligation in 2025, through a "balanced compromise" with national stakeholders. The initial proposed objective is a 2% use in 2025.

This policy proposal reactivated the Bioqueroseno Initiative as a discussion and facilitation forum.

Spain presented in 2019 -together with France- a technical paper in ICAO addressing the concept of "Balanced Compromise", which proposes establishing national SAF supply targets to be defined through a dialogue between regulators and industry ensuring it does not introduces competitive distortions.

The Bioqueroseno initiative aim to put in practice this concept.

Partners

Spanish Ministry of Transport, Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition, IDAE (Spanish Institute for Diversification and Energy Saving), AESA (Spanish Air Safety State), SENASA (Services and Studies for Air Navigation and Aeronautical Safety), BIOPLAT (Spanish Biomass Platform) and industry stakeholders.

Achievements to date

Under this Initiative, Spain signed three international SAF related cooperation agreements, with several related activities undertaken:

• Mexico (2 November de 2010): First trans-oceanic flight with aviation biofuel between Mexico City and Madrid (2011). Cooperation with the Mexican "Bioturbosina" initiative.
• Italy (24 June 2011): Close partnership cooperation under several EU research programs. Joint workshops. Cooperation within ICAO activities.
• United States (11 February 2013): Participation in the US CAAFI biannual General Congress. Joint activities under the US PARTNER research program and EU funded projects in which Spain participates. Cooperation within ICAO activities.

Spain also actively participated in the following EU funded research projects to promote SAF:

• ITAKA (coordinated by SENASA, 2012-2016)
• Core Jet-Fuel (2013-2016)
• Forum AE (2013 - 2017)
• Bio4A (2017-2020)

Spain also actively contributes to the technical work of the ICAO Fuels Task Group (FTG) under the Committee on Aviation and Environmental Protection (CAEP).

Two regulatory proposals have been launched by the Spanish Government in 2019 for SAF promotion:

1) The Spanish Climate Change Law1

2) The Spanish Integrated Plan for Energy and Climate2

It is expected to establish a 2% SAF supply in 2025.
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1 https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/consejodeministros/Paginas/enlaces/220219-proyecto.aspx

2 https://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/documents/spain_draftnecp.pdf

Contact information

• www.bioqueroseno.com
• info [at] obsa.org (info[at]obsa[dot]org)

Contact person: Raúl Martín Fontana 
Manager OBSA (Observatory of Sustainability in Aviation)