ICAO CORSIA Certification in 2026: What Version 1.7 of the RSB Standard Means for Operators Entering the Market
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SAF producers and fuel suppliers pursuing access to CORSIA-compliant markets face a specific commercial requirement: independent certification against a scheme recognised by ICAO. Without it, fuel cannot be classified as CORSIA Eligible Fuel, and the emissions reductions it delivers cannot be credited to airlines under the scheme. RSB published Version 1.7 of the RSB ICAO CORSIA Standard on 7 April 2026, effective immediately. For organisations evaluating or preparing a certification application, this article sets out what the updated standard requires and what entering RSB operator certification at this stage involves.
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What RSB ICAO CORSIA Certification Delivers
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RSB ICAO CORSIA certification provides operators with a Chain of Custody-verified pathway to market, independently audited documentation supporting offtake negotiations, and regulatory recognition. This is what distinguishes sustainable aviation fuel certification from an internal claim: the audit trail is independent, the standard is publicly governed, and the recognition is embedded in the regulatory frameworks airlines and fuel buyers are accountable to.
RSB currently holds 75 active certificates across seven schemes. In 2025 alone, 37 new applications were received, including from Repsol, Glencore, Montana Renewables, and Norden. For operators assessing whether to enter RSB operator certification now, that pipeline signals where the market is moving.
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What Version 1.7 Changes
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Version 1.7 updates and expands the standard significantly. The annex architecture grows from six to ten, and both LCA core default values and ILUC risk assessment values are revised to reflect the latest ICAO-approved datasets. These updated values apply to new batches of CORSIA-eligible fuel from 7 April 2026. A three-month transition period runs until 7 July 2026, after which Version 1.7 supersedes all previous versions.
For operators beginning a certification application under Version 1.7, four areas carry particular relevance.
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Pathway Assessment Under Revised Default Values
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The updated LCA and ILUC default values affect how the Life Cycle Emissions Factor (LCEF) is calculated for each production pathway. Operators intending to use default values rather than actual measured values should verify that their feedstock and production route produces an acceptable LCEF under the revised datasets before advancing to a formal application. Early engagement with an RSB-approved certification body to confirm pathway viability is advisable at this stage.
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Electricity Sourcing Requirements
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Annex VII introduces a formal framework for electricity sourcing across SAF production pathways. For any operator using electrified processes, electricity consumption now requires documented traceability and credibility. The annex sets out sourcing rules based on whether production capacity was established before or after 1 January 2033, and requires the use of Energy Attribute Certificates, power purchase agreements, or dedicated generation to substantiate electricity-related emission claims. Criteria covering deliverability, temporal matching, additionality, and environmental credibility apply. Operators with significant electricity consumption should assess whether existing procurement arrangements satisfy these requirements before submitting an application.
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Carbon Capture and Sequestration
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Annexes VIII and IX substantially expand the requirements for geological CCS. Where CCS contributes to an operator’s emissions accounting, the standard now requires site-specific risk assessments and leakage modelling over a 100-year timeframe, regular reassessment at minimum every five years, and explicit identification and management of seismic and vibrational risks. Operators planning to include CCS claims should discuss the monitoring and documentation structure with their certification body at the pre-application stage.
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Soil Carbon Accumulation
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Annex X introduces formal guidance for accounting for emission savings from Soil Carbon Accumulation (SCA), recognising practices including reduced tillage, cover crops, organic amendments, and biochar. Where the requirements are met, SCA emission savings may be applied to lifecycle stage 1 emissions. For operators sourcing agricultural feedstocks where recognised soil carbon practices are already in place, this creates a documented route to reflect those practices within CORSIA accounting, provided monitoring and verification requirements are satisfied.
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How to Certify Sustainable Aviation Fuel Under Version 1.7
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RSB supports prospective operators through a pre-certification advisory process before a formal application is submitted. This is the appropriate entry point for organisations assessing pathway viability, reviewing feedstock classification, or determining whether electricity sourcing or CCS claims will be part of their submission. Understanding how to certify sustainable aviation fuel under the updated standard begins with that conversation.
The transition window to Version 1.7 closes on 7 July 2026. Operators who begin the pre-certification process now have sufficient time to assess the implications of the updated standard and structure their application accordingly.
To begin a certification enquiry or speak with RSB’s certification team, visit certification.
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