{"id":53760,"date":"2025-09-11T19:17:19","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T13:47:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=53760"},"modified":"2025-09-12T13:34:54","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T08:04:54","slug":"national-policy-sustainable-aviation-fuel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/11-09-2025\/national-policy-sustainable-aviation-fuel","title":{"rendered":"National Policy on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Environment; Energy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India is <strong>formulating a national policy on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)<\/strong> alongside a long-term roadmap through 2050, as part of its efforts to achieve <strong>Net Zero emissions by 2070.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is a <strong>bio-based alternative<\/strong> to fossil-derived jet fuel that can be produced from non-edible oils, used cooking oil, algae, and agricultural waste.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Need For A National Policy on SAF<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Global Compliance &amp; Enabling International Certification: <\/strong>ICAO\u2019 CORSIA becomes <strong>mandatory for participating states from 2027<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Airlines <strong>operating international flights<\/strong> between ICAO member states <strong>need to be required to offset their carbon emissions<\/strong> above a set baseline, ensuring compliance with global emissions reduction goals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>India currently lacks<\/strong> an <strong>Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) <\/strong>benchmark within the CORSIA framework, unlike <strong>Brazil (sugarcane) and the US (corn).<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA)<\/strong><br>&#8211; Launched by the <strong>International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)<\/strong> in 2016, to achieve carbon-neutral growth in international aviation from 2020 onwards.<br>&#8211; First global market-based mechanism to address international aviation emissions.<br><strong>Implementation Phases<\/strong><br>&#8211; <strong>Pilot Phase (2021\u20132023):<\/strong> Voluntary participation.<br>&#8211; <strong>First Phase (2024\u20132026):<\/strong> Still voluntary, but many states have joined.<br>&#8211; <strong>Second Phase (2027\u20132035):<\/strong> Mandatory for most ICAO member states (with exceptions for Least Developed Countries, Small Island Developing States, and Landlocked Developing Countries)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Potential and Opportunities&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India has proposed blending targets of <strong>1% by 2027; 2% by 2028; and 5% by 2030 <\/strong>for SAF in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), initially for international flights.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>By 2030, achieving the <strong>5% SAF blending target<\/strong> would require about <strong>6 billion litres of ethanol<\/strong>, if no other feedstocks are considered.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Support Feedstock Cultivation &amp; Supply Chain Development:<\/strong> According to Deloitte\u2019s 2024 report \u2018Green Wings: India\u2019s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Revolution in the Making\u2019:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India could produce <strong>8\u201310 million tonnes of SAF annually by FY40<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Investments required: <strong>\u20b96\u20137 lakh crore ($70\u201385 billion)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Emission reduction potential: <strong>20\u201325 million tonnes annually<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>Indian Sugar &amp; Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA)<\/strong> is working on blending strategies.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It has partnered with <strong>The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)<\/strong> to conduct a <strong>Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)<\/strong> of sugarcane-based SAF using syrup, molasses, and bagasse.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Challenges&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Cost and Classification: <\/strong>SAF costs nearly <strong>3 times more than conventional jet fuel<\/strong>, while <strong>synthetic SAF (Power-to-Liquid)<\/strong> can be <strong>7 times costlier<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SAF is still classified under fossil fuels, and<strong> reclassification under the bioenergy sector<\/strong> would allow access to existing incentives, such as those under the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/blog\/gobar-dhan-scheme\/\">Gobardhan scheme<\/a><\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Technological Gaps:<\/strong> SAF production requires advanced infrastructure and R&amp;D.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Limited access to sustainable biomass<\/strong> like molasses, bagasse, and used cooking oil.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Efforts &amp; Initiatives Related to SAF in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Institutional Framework: <\/strong>The policy is being jointly steered by the <strong>Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG)<\/strong> and the <strong>Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA)<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>MoPNG<\/strong>: Focus on production, feedstock development, and certification.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It has constituted a <strong>Bio-Aviation Turbine Fuel Programme Committee <\/strong>to promote SAF adoption.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>MoCA<\/strong>: Responsible for implementation, airline obligations, airport readiness, and compliance with <strong>global standards such as ASTM D7566 and CORSIA.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Indian Oil Corporation<\/strong> aims to start producing <strong>35,000 tonnes of SAF per year<\/strong> from used cooking oil, sourced from large hotels, restaurants, and food chains.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India is collaborating with the US under the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/18-09-2024\/u-s-india-strategic-clean-energy-partnership\">Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP)<\/a><\/strong>, which includes SAF-focused workshops on R&amp;D, certification, and market development.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>CSIR\u2013Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP)<\/strong> has developed SAF using indigenous feedstocks such as <strong>palm stearin, sapium oil, algae oil, karanja, and jatropha<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It has received provisional certification from the <strong>Centre for Military Airworthiness &amp; Certification (CEMILAC)<\/strong> for use in military aircraft.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion and Way Forward&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India\u2019s SAF policy is not just an environmental necessity but a strategic opportunity to lead in sustainable aviation. With strong collaboration between government, industry, and research, India can advance toward its net-zero goals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There is a need to accelerate the release of a comprehensive National SAF Policy with clear mandates and regulatory guidelines.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.downtoearth.org.in\/energy\/sustainable-aviation-fuel-policy-in-the-works-as-india-targets-net-zero-by-2070\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Source: DTE<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<h3><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">India is formulating a national policy on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) alongside a long-term roadmap through 2050, as part of its efforts to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2070.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<h3><strong>About the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">It is a bio-based alternative to fossil-derived jet fuel that can be produced from non-edible oils, used cooking oil, algae, and agricultural waste.<\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/11-09-2025\/national-policy-sustainable-aviation-fuel\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read\u00a0More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53760","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53760","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53760"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53760\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53852,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53760\/revisions\/53852"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53760"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53760"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53760"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}