Deutsche Aircraft, Energi i Nord (North Energy Cluster) and BLU (Green Artic Aviation Development) successfully hosted the third annual e-SAF Conference, a premier event in Northern Norway's aviation hub, Bodø. This conference is dedicated to advancing the development and adoption of e-fuels in aviation and this year's gathering united aircraft manufacturers, airlines, SAF producers, policymakers, NGOs, researchers and financial institutions to foster business opportunities and accelerate the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF).

The Bodø e-SAF Declaration: A Collective Commitment to Sustainable Aviation

A highlight of the conference was the Bodø e-SAF Declaration, signed by Energi i Nord, BLU, Deutsche Aircraft and other key industry partners. This declaration underscored a shared commitment to sustainable aviation by advocating for:

• Long-term regulatory certainty, funding and the use of market-based measures like the EU ETS to support e-SAF development.
• The establishment of a European book & claim system to streamline SAF adoption.
• Cross-sector collaboration to drive innovation and accelerate e-SAF integration.
• A goal of 100 per cent SAF usage in aviation.
• Annual progress reports to ensure accountability and transparency.

Industry Leaders and Experts Champion SAF

Regina Pouzolz, Director of Sustainable Flight at Deutsche Aircraft, emphasised the power of working across disciplines: "Having the opportunity to have in-depth discussions with other stakeholders from the complex aviation and energy ecosystem leads to joint problem-solving. This exchange is key for rapid implementation of new technologies."

Laura Johanne Olsen, Program Manager of Lofoten the Green Islands, highlighted the region's strategic role: "With Lofoten's booming international tourism industry and its commitment to becoming a low-emission society, it serves as an ideal testing ground for sustainable aviation solutions."

Damien Meadows, Advisor at the European Commission, who advocates for continued European support for climate action including e-SAF, added: "We must stay the course and ensure regulatory continuity. The decisions and actions we take in the coming years will be far-reaching to scale up e-SAF. Broader carbon pricing can be a significant lever for decarbonising aviation and generating additional income to support e-SAF. If the aviation industry is not credible about tackling climate change, it will lose its societal license to operate. Damage is increasing exponentially from climate change worldwide, and there must be economy-wide action to avoid going dangerously beyond 1.5 degrees warming.”

"Sustainable Aviation Fuel is crucial for the transition of the aviation industry. Our Norsk e-Fuel partnership shows our commitment to scaling up production. We now need supportive policies to realise the potential of Sustainable Aviation Fuel production in Norway, in line with the Norwegian parliament's ambitions," said Kristoffer Gustavsen, Senior Advisor for Public Affairs and Sustainability at Norwegian Air Shuttle.

"Developing a low-emission lime production is essential for reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainability. At SMA Mineral, we are committed to offer CO₂ as a bi-product from our zero-emission quicklime production (ZEQL) and reusing this CO₂ in partnership with e-fuel producers such as Infinium. This initiative not only helps in mitigating climate change, but also supports new business development and enhances the competitiveness of the industry," said Jan Gabor, Advisor for SMA Mineral.

The Future of e-Fuels and Air Connectivity

The e-SAF Conference highlighted the pivotal role of e-fuels in sustaining air connectivity while minimising aviation's environmental impact. Bodø is part of a comprehensive network of domestic and regional airports, and the development of e-fuels is essential for maintaining connectivity in remote communities, supporting tourism and ensuring economic sustainability.

In addition, the conference was a platform for critical discussions as Northern Norway leads the transition to climate-neutral aviation. The Bodø e-SAF Declaration underscores the commitment of the undersigning parties to advance the SAF market.