The German government’s recent decision to scrap the Power-to-Liquid (PtL) quota for aviation fuels has drawn sharp criticism, sparking accusations of undermining climate goals and prioritizing political expediency over environmental necessity. The move, approved by the Federal Cabinet on Wednesday, effectively nullifies a planned mandate requiring a steadily increasing proportion of synthetic fuels – “e-kerosene” – to be blended with conventional jet fuel starting in 2026.
Environmental advocacy group German Environmental Aid (DUH) has condemned the decision, arguing that it represents a significant setback for the nascent e-kerosene industry and a worrying signal regarding Germany’s commitment to decarbonizing the transport sector. DUH’s director, Jürgen Resch, characterized the simultaneous discussions around introducing a quota for hydrogen and e-fuels in the road transport sector within the existing Greenhouse Gas Reduction Quota (THG-Quota) as “a recipe for disaster” suggesting a flawed allocation of limited resources.
Critics point to the fact that green hydrogen and synthetic fuels remain exceptionally scarce and prohibitively expensive. The original plan had been to revisit both quotas in tandem, recognizing their interconnected role in promoting sustainable alternatives. Instead, the abrupt cancellation of the aviation quota raises concerns that the government is bowing to lobbying pressure from the aviation industry, which has expressed resistance to binding mandates.
DUH is now advocating for a strategic prioritization of these limited sustainable fuels, arguing they should be reserved for sectors with the fewest viable alternatives – namely aviation and shipping. This position underscores the significant challenges in achieving net-zero emissions across all transport modes and highlights the potential for policy inconsistencies to hinder progress. The move also reignites the debate over the effectiveness of the existing THG-Quota, which has been accused of inadvertently incentivizing the use of less environmentally sound fuels in the past. The future direction of German climate policy is now under increased scrutiny following this controversial decision.