India’s First Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Plant by Indian Oil Corporation is A Turning Point in Aviation Decarbonisation. Read here to learn more about SAF.
The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is set to start commercial production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) from used cooking oil (UCO) at its Panipat refinery, after securing ISCC CORSIA (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification for CORSIA) certification.
This marks India’s first SAF plant, positioning the country on the global map of green aviation and advancing its Net Zero 2070 commitment.
What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)?
- Sustainable Aviation Fuel is a next-generation biofuel derived from renewable, sustainable feedstocks.
- It is chemically similar to Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) and can be used as a ‘drop-in’ fuel in existing aircraft engines without modifications.
- Aviation contributes nearly 2-3% of global CO₂ emissions, one of the fastest-growing sectors for emissions.
- With limited alternatives like electric/hydrogen planes for long-haul, Sustainable Aviation Fuel is the most practical decarbonisation pathway.
Possible Feedstocks for Sustainable Aviation Fuel
- Oils & Fats
- Used Cooking Oil (UCO)
- Algal oils
- Animal fats
- Oil-rich seeds (jatropha, pongamia, camelina)
- Agricultural & Forestry Residues: Sugarcane bagasse, rice husks, wheat straw, forestry waste
- Municipal Solid Waste (MSW): Plastics, organic waste processed into syngas
- Sugars & Starches (Alcohol-to-Jet or ATJ Pathway): Conversion of ethanol, butanol, isobutanol into hydrocarbons
IOC’s Panipat refinery will rely on UCO recycling, linking waste management with aviation decarbonisation.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Pathways
Pathway |
Blending Limitation |
Feedstocks |
Chemical Process |
Fischer-Tropsch (FT) Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (SPK) |
50% |
Municipal solid waste, agricultural & forest wastes, woody biomass, energy crops |
Biomass → Gasification → Syngas → Fischer-Tropsch synthesis → Jet fuel. ASTM approved (June 2009). |
Hydroprocessed Esters & Fatty Acids (HEFA-SPK) |
50% |
Oils & fats (jatropha, algae, camelina, yellow grease, animal fats, waste oils) |
Triglycerides → Hydroprocessing → Hydroisomerization + Hydrocracking → Drop-in jet fuel. ASTM approved (July 2011). |
Hydroprocessed Fermented Sugars to Synthetic Isoparaffins (HFS-SIP) |
10% |
Sugars (cellulosic biomass like corn stover, herbaceous crops, pretreated waste oils) |
Microbial fermentation of sugars → Hydrocarbons → Jet fuel. ASTM approved (June 2014). |
FT-SPK with Aromatics (FT-SPK/A) |
50% |
Same as FT-SPK (woody biomass, MSW, residues) |
FT process with additional aromatic hydrocarbons → Jet fuel with aromatics. ASTM approved (Nov 2015). |
Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ-SPK) |
50% (30% for ethanol) |
Cellulosic & starchy alcohols (isobutanol, ethanol from corn stover, lignocellulosic biomass) |
Alcohols → Dehydration → Hydrogenation → Oligomerization → Hydroprocessing → Jet fuel. ASTM approved (Apr 2016 for isobutanol; Jun 2018 for ethanol, up to 30%). |
Catalytic Hydrothermolysis Synthesised Kerosene (CH-SPK) |
50% |
Triglyceride-based oils (soybean, jatropha, camelina, carinata, tung oil, waste oils) |
Hydrothermal liquefaction → Hydroprocessing in catalytic reactor → Jet fuel. ASTM approved (Feb 2020). |
Hydrocarbon-Hydroprocessed Esters & Fatty Acids (HC-HEFA-SPK) |
10% |
Algal oil (Botryococcus braunii) |
Triglyceride algal oil → Hydroprocessing → Jet fuel. ASTM approved (May 2020). |
Fats, Oils & Greases (FOG) Co-Processing |
5% |
Used cooking oil, waste animal fats, greases |
Co-processing with petroleum intermediates in refineries. ASTM approved (2018). |
FT Co-Processing |
5% |
Fischer-Tropsch biocrude |
FT biocrude co-processed with petroleum crude oil in refineries. ASTM approved (2018). |
Significance of Sustainable Aviation Fuel
- Climate Mitigation
- Reduces lifecycle GHG emissions by up to 80% compared to fossil jet fuel.
- Contributes to over 60% of aviation’s decarbonisation needs (as per IATA).
- Energy Security
- Reduces dependence on imported crude.
- Promotes indigenous feedstocks & waste-to-fuel circular economy.
- Green Jobs & Economy: SAF’s value chain can generate employment in waste collection, refining, logistics, and R&D.
- Compatibility: Approved blends: up to 50% SAF + ATF in current aircraft engines.
Challenges in SAF Adoption
- High Costs
- SAF is 2-3 times more expensive than conventional ATF.
- Without subsidies or mandates, airlines may resist adoption.
- Feedstock Availability
- UCO and residues are seasonal, scattered, and difficult to collect.
- Risk of food-fuel conflict if oilseeds are diverted.
- Infrastructure Gaps: SAF supply chains, dedicated storage, and blending facilities are underdeveloped in India.
- Policy & Market Risks: No clear long-term incentives like carbon pricing, tax credits, or feedstock purchase guarantees.
ISCC CORSIA Certification
What is ISCC CORSIA?
- A global sustainability certification ensuring that SAF complies with ICAO’s CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation).
About CORSIA (ICAO’s Scheme):
-
- Global initiative to cap international aviation emissions at 2020 levels.
- Airlines must offset emissions above the cap through carbon credits and SAF blending.
- Phases:
- Pilot & Voluntary (2021–2026)
- Mandatory from 2027 onwards
Why Critical for India?
- With ISCC CORSIA certification, IOC’s SAF can be exported to international airlines, giving India a first-mover advantage in green fuel trade.
India’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Roadmap
- National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC) targets:
- 1% SAF blending in 2027 (international flights)
- 2% in 2028
- Domestic blending mandate post-2027
- Policy Linkages:
- Net Zero 2070 commitments.
- Biofuel Mission 2022 (expansion of ethanol blending, biodiesel, and SAF).
- Waste-to-Wealth and circular economy initiatives.
- Opportunities:
- India produces over 2.3 crore tonnes of UCO annually.
- Potential to emerge as a regional SAF hub, especially supplying Europe (where stricter aviation decarbonisation mandates exist).
Way Forward
- Financial Incentives
- Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for SAF refineries.
- Tax credits/subsidies for airlines adopting SAF.
- Feedstock Mobilisation
- UCO collection networks via FSSAI, food businesses, and MSMEs.
- Dedicated farmer-producer organisations (FPOs) for agri-residues.
- Policy Push
- Mandatory blending targets with a clear timeline.
- Green hydrogen-SAF hybrid R&D support.
- Global Integration
- Participation in the ICAO & IATA SAF roadmap.
- Bilateral SAF trade agreements (India-EU, India-Gulf).
Conclusion
The IOC’s Panipat Sustainable Aviation Fuel plant is a watershed moment for India’s aviation and energy transition journey.
By converting waste cooking oil into jet fuel, India is linking waste management, energy security, and climate goals.
However, the road ahead requires scale-up, affordability, and global competitiveness.
With supportive policies, investments, and international cooperation, India can emerge as a global leader in SAF, contributing not only to its Net Zero 2070 pledge but also to shaping the future of sustainable aviation.
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