Aviation sustainability support group Azzera has added a new module to its Celeste platform allowing private and commercial aircraft operators to comply with the European Union’s ReFuelEU sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mandate. The added feature helps clients respond to the specific ReFuelEU monitoring and reporting requirements so that they can demonstrate their SAF usage, track how it was sourced, provide necessary certificates, and manage fuel stocks.

Celeste was developed to help aircraft owners and operators calculate the carbon footprint for each flight and implement mitigating measures including carbon offset purchases, as well as SAF usage, whether the fuel is directly uploaded to a specific aircraft or purchased via a book-and-claim arrangement. Swiss-based Azzera aims to help clients, whether they are voluntarily reducing the environmental impact of flights or complying with mandates that also include ICAO’s Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation.

One of the main features of the new ReFuelEU module is that it automatically generates compliance reports, which Azzera said will reduce the administrative burden. Operators can track their compliance in real-time via a live dashboard that highlights and mitigates any noncompliance with requirements throughout the year to avoid incurring penalties.

Among the ReFuelEU compliance requirements is a mandate intended to discourage operators from arriving at EU airports with more fuel than is required for the outbound trip with the specific intention of avoiding fuel purchases in Europe. The rule has been in force since January 1, with initial reports required from March 1.

“The regulation brings significant changes that require operators to adapt quickly, address logistical hurdles, and incorporate new practices into their operations,” said Puja Mahajan, founder and CEO of Azzera. “Compliance with ReFuelEU is complex and any exemption requests need to be properly justified.”

Under the so-called anti-tankering rule, operators conducting 500 or more flights from EU airports each year have to prove that they uplifted at least 90% of their required fuel at those locations or pay penalties amounting to twice the cost of the fuel. Supposedly, the rule is intended to reduce emissions resulting from excess fuel weight.

"ReFuelEU requires ongoing monitoring throughout the year in order to comply with the anti-tankering requirements and avoid penalties," Mahajan explained. "This is made possible with Azzera's Celeste and its ReFuelEU Dashboard, where non-compliances are flagged for operators to rectify them before the end of the reporting year. Celeste identifies [European] Union airports, collects planned fuel data, as well as post-flight fuel data from relevant arrival and departure flights, and aggregates this information in the comprehensive dashboard. At any point in time, operators can assess if they are at risk of penalties due to economic tankering, or if they can justify their lower than required uplift with the so-called safety fuel.”

Azzera is committed to staying on top of changes to regulations and market conditions so that operators aren’t overly burdened with having all the required compliance information. “This is why our new module is so effective,” Mahajan added. “Aviation operators do not need to reinvent the wheel and create their own compliance and sustainability solution. They can focus on their core business and let us do the rest.”

According to Azzera, during 2024, Celeste helped clients mitigate more than 100,000 tons of carbon emissions. Customers can access the new ReFuelEU tool through their subscription to the platform, which is already integrated with flight scheduling systems including Skylegs, Leon, Aims, and Vmo, with FL3XX to be added soon.