Collective investment momentum
Eight member states have voluntarily joined the European eSAF Early Movers Coalition. Their shared objective is to mobilise at least five hundred million euros for the first wave of commercial plants producing synthetic aviation fuel made with renewable electricity and captured carbon. Pooling national contributions sends a clear signal to investors that demand for low carbon flight is real and growing.
How double-sided auctions work
The coalition will finance competitive double sided auctions beginning in 2026. Under this model a public intermediary signs two contracts. One agreement guarantees producers a minimum sale price over many years. The other guarantees airlines or fuel suppliers competitively priced volumes during the same period. If market prices fall below the producer contract the intermediary pays the gap; if prices rise above the buyer contract the intermediary receives the difference. This balanced design stabilises revenue and expenditure alike.
Hidden benefit of shared data
A detail that receives little attention is the data flow generated by auction bids. Each tender reveals real time cost curves for electrolysers, power purchase, carbon capture and logistics across Europe. When published in aggregate, this information will help policy makers fine tune further support and allow innovators to benchmark their progress without breaching commercial confidentiality.
Timetable and next steps
Key milestones include compiling state aid approvals in 2025, launching the first auction in early 2026, signing contracts before year end and commencing plant construction soon after. The coalition remains open to additional countries, giving others a simple pathway to join and leverage the structure already built.
Conclusion
By combining capital, certainty and transparent learning, the Early Movers Coalition is turning ambitious European climate targets into practical engineering projects. The approach accelerates technology maturity while keeping value creation inside the single market, positioning European firms to lead global sustainable aviation efforts.