GS 3 – Economy
Context
- India is preparing a Sustainable Aviation Fuel policy with blending mandates, aligning with global emission reduction norms and its Net Zero 2070 commitment.
- Will also help meet ICAO’s CORSIA framework, mandatory from 2027.
Key Features of Draft Policy
- Blending Targets:
- 1% by 2027
- 2% by 2028
- 5% by 2030 (for international flights).
- Global Alignment: Compliance with ICAO’s CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation).
Feedstocks & Production Pathways
- Conventional SAF – from waste oils & biomass.
- Synthetic SAF – made using CO₂ + water + renewable energy (high sustainability, very costly).
- Sugarcane-based SAF – strategic for India; current Life Cycle Assessment on molasses, syrup, and bagasse (benchmarking Brazil’s model).
Potential Advantages
- Emission Reductions: Cuts lifecycle CO₂ by up to 80%; could reduce aviation emissions by 20–25 MT annually by 2040.
- Energy Security: Lower crude imports alongside climate gains.
- Biomass Utilisation: India’s 750 MT biomass offers large SAF potential.
- Farmers’ Income: New value chain for crop residue → rural earnings.
- Capacity Support: India’s ethanol capacity (18.25 bn litres) can feed into SAF blending.
- Export Opportunity: With ₹6–7 lakh crore investment, India could produce 8–10 MT of SAF annually by FY40, positioning itself as a global supplier.
Key Challenges
- High Cost:
- SAF ≈ 3× conventional jet fuel.
- Synthetic SAF ≈ 7× conventional jet fuel.
- Feedstock Security: Dependence on sugarcane, molasses, bagasse.
- Policy Classification: Still categorised as fossil fuel, limiting access to bioenergy incentives.
- Scalability: Needs heavy infra & R&D investments.
- Standardisation Gap: SAF certification norms still evolving, creating uncertainty for airlines & refiners.