India has significant potential to become a major producer of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), which can help cut down pollution, as materials like rice and wheat straws can be used for SAF production, according to a senior Airbus official. As one of the fastest-growing aviation markets, India is gradually taking steps toward adopting SAF, reports The Economic Times.
Aircraft manufacturer Airbus has been actively working on initiatives to boost SAF production and usage, with the current demand centered in Europe. The company has also partnered with the Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP) in Dehradun.
“India has great potential to be a leading producer of SAF. There is plenty of biomass waste, used cooking oil, and municipal solid waste that can be used,” said Julien Manhes, Head of SAF and Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Development at Airbus, while speaking to reporters.
During an interaction in Toulouse last week, Manhes emphasized that SAF can help tackle several environmental issues, including air pollution.
“In India, for example, the rice and wheat straws that are burned every year and contribute to poor air quality in Delhi could instead be used as raw material for SAF,” he explained.
Manhes also pointed out that India has a well-established petrochemical industry, numerous refineries, and strong engineering expertise, which could aid SAF production.
Airbus, in collaboration with IIP, is working on developing a new method for SAF production. “We are supporting IIP in getting this new production method approved… It is a unique partnership in India,” he said.
Looking ahead, Manhes projected that by 2040 or 2050, India could be producing close to 100 million tonnes of SAF.
In December 2024, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimated that global SAF production would reach 2.1 million tonnes (2.7 billion liters) in 2025, up from the 1 million tonnes (1.3 billion liters) projected for 2024.
IATA represents about 340 airlines worldwide, including Indian carriers, which account for over 80 percent of global air traffic.
Since SAF is currently more expensive than crude oil, Manhes stressed the need for measures to make it more cost-competitive, which would require large-scale production.
“To achieve mass production, policies are essential. Governments need to either mandate the use of.SAF usage or providing support for its production. That is why countries are implementing regulatory policies to create an environment where local industries can thrive,” he noted.
“In India, there is significant progress being made in this direction,” he added.
Discussing the current demand for SAF, Manhes said that it is primarily concentrated in Europe, while production is spread across Europe, China, and the US. “Our focus is on encouraging demand in other countries as well,” he said.
Last week, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury stated that SAF, which helps lower carbon emissions, presents a major opportunity for India, where sustainability is a key priority.
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