Why in news?
The latest news on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as of September 2025 highlights major advances in India’s sustainable aviation strategy and global policy developments.
 
Key Developments

• The Ministry of Civil Aviation, ICAO, and European Union released India’s SAF Feasibility Study, analyzing feedstock capacity, production potential, policy frameworks, and infrastructure readiness for scaling SAF use.
• The study sets clear targets: 1% SAF blending by 2027, 2% by 2028, and 5% by 2030 for international flights, aligning with ICAO CORSIA mandates on aviation emissions.
• Indian Oil Corporation’s Panipat refinery will begin producing SAF from used cooking oil in December 2025, with a capacity of 35,000 tonnes per year—the first such plant in India, certified under ISCC CORSIA standards.
• Crop residue and food industry waste are emphasized as core feedstocks for India’s forthcoming SAF supply.
• The government expects these moves to cut crude oil imports, boost farmer incomes, and position India as a global SAF exporter by leveraging its surplus biomass and agricultural residues.

About Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is an alternative to conventional jet fuel, made from renewable, non-petroleum feedstocks, which can reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to fossil-based fuels.
 
Key Features

• Sources: SAF is produced from materials such as agricultural waste, used cooking oil, industrial waste, animal fat, forestry residues, and even municipal solid waste.
• Compatibility: It is a 'drop-in' fuel, meaning it works seamlessly with existing aircraft engines and airport fueling infrastructure without the need for modifications.
• Emission Reduction: SAF has the potential to reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% and even more as technology evolves.

Production Pathways

• Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA): Converts oils and fats into jet fuel and is among the most used processes.
• Fischer-Tropsch (FT): Uses woody biomass or waste to produce synthetic paraffinic kerosene.
• Alcohol-to-Jet (AtJ): Uses alcohols derived from cellulosic or starchy biomass.
• Others: Include Catalytic Hydrothermolysis, Hydroprocessed Fermented Sugars, and more.

Sustainability Principles

• Feedstock Selection: Leading providers avoid food crop feedstocks like soy and palm oil to prevent issues such as deforestation and food security risks.
• Certification & Auditing: SAF producers are subject to third-party certification and regular audits to ensure sourcing and production sustainability.

Impact and Usage

• Current Adoption: SAF is commercially available and already used in thousands of flights globally, primarily in the US and Europe.
• Indian Context: The Ministry of Civil Aviation recently highlighted SAF as an immediate and practical solution to decarbonize the aviation sector in India.
• Goals: International aviation is targeting net zero carbon by 2050, with increasing SAF adoption crucial to achieving these ambitions.

Policy and Market Developments

• Governments and industry bodies are launching initiatives to expand SAF production and usage, such as the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge and the ICAO’s CORSIA framework, aiming for large-scale global adoption and emissions reduction.

Challenges

• Supply Limitations: Current SAF production faces constraints due to limited feedstock supply, though new production pathways and technological advances are being explored to address these challenges.
• Cost: SAF is currently more expensive than conventional jet fuel due to feedstock and production costs.

Sustainable aviation fuel thus represents a critical solution for decarbonizing air transport, supporting global climate objectives, and enabling more environmentally responsible growth of the aviation sector.

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