Sweden Unveils National Plan to Strengthen Sustainable Aviation and Maritime Fuel Supply

Sweden is preparing a stronger state-backed strategy to secure supplies of sustainable aviation and maritime fuels after a government inquiry warned of potential fuel shortages in Europe from the 2030s onward. The national action plan, highlighted on May 13, 2026, focuses on expanding domestic production capacity for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and sustainable maritime fuels (SMF).

The inquiry warned that existing European production capacity may not be sufficient to meet future demand created by EU climate regulations such as ReFuelEU Aviation, FuelEU Maritime, and the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). Officials cautioned that without major investment, Europe could become increasingly dependent on imported sustainable fuels, exposing airlines and shipping operators to price volatility and supply-chain risks.

To address the challenge, the plan proposes stronger government intervention through green credit guarantees, public risk-sharing mechanisms, and targeted production support to accelerate private investment in low-carbon fuel infrastructure. Sweden believes it is well positioned to become a Nordic hub for sustainable fuel production due to its fossil-free electricity system, biomass resources, and access to biogenic carbon dioxide for synthetic fuel development.

The initiative aligns with Sweden’s long-term climate targets, including achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. Sustainable fuels are expected to play a critical role in decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors such as aviation and maritime transport until technologies like electric and hydrogen-powered transport become commercially viable at scale.

Sweden's SAF-and-e-fuel plan is meaningful for European transport decarbonisation because it addresses upstream feedstock and refining capacity that ReFuelEU targets alone can't create. Our energy-transition and supply-chain-and-operations teams help airlines, shipping companies and fuel producers evaluate what these national plans mean for their long-term fuel-procurement strategy.