Sustainable aviation fuel, which can be blended with regular jet fuel, is expected to be the biggest contributor in the industry’s decarbonisation efforts.

Global Energy Independence Day, observed on July 10, serves as a timely reminder to embrace cleaner, sustainable energy alternatives. In this context, aviation has emerged as a critical sector as it is estimated to contribute nearly 2.5 per cent of global annual carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, alongside almost 4 per cent of the total anthropogenic contribution to global warming, 

Therefore, focus has been shifted to solutions like sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which is likely to account for over 60 per cent in decarbonisation. India can potentially manufacture 40 million tonnes of SAF by 2050, which positions it as a key player in shaping a greener, more resilient aviation future. Let’s understand SAF and its key environmental benefits.

SAF for reducing airline emissions

Aircraft emit water vapour, soot, sulfur aerosols, nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), which contribute to the formation of contrails – clouds that form when water vapour condenses and freezes around small particles (aerosols) in aircraft exhaust. All of these factors have additional warming effects on the atmosphere. 

Moreover, aviation’s share in global emissions is expected to increase due to two key reasons. First, less than 10 per cent of the global population currently relies on air travel. But this number is projected to more than double in the coming decades. Second, unlike aviation, other high-emission sectors such as electricity, cement, and steel production are gradually moving to greener alternatives. 

In this context, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), also known as aviation biofuel, has emerged as a credible alternative with the potential to reduce aviation-related emissions. SAF is made from sustainable sources and has characteristics similar to Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), but with a significantly lesser carbon footprint. It is a ‘drop in’ fuel, meaning it can be blended with ATF without requiring any change in the existing machinery of aircraft. 

SAF can be derived from a range of materials, including :

— Oils and fats such as Used Cooking Oil (UCO), oil-rich seeds from plants, algae oils, animal fats

— Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)

— Agricultural and forestry residues such as wood waste, sugarcane bagasse, corn stover, husks and straw, sugars and starches. 

There are various methods to produce SAF, with each using different combinations of raw materials. For SAF to be truly sustainable, it is important that the feedstock used in its production does not compete with food production, cause deforestation, or harm biodiversity. 

Toward net-negative emissions 

SAF offers multiple benefits. The primary advantage is its ability to significantly reduce emissions and its compatibility with the current global aircraft fleet. It means SAF can be used without modifications to existing planes, engines, or fueling infrastructure. It is estimated that SAF has the potential to reduce GHG emissions in air travel by up to 80 per cent compared to conventional jet fuel.

In addition to SAF, there are other innovations like Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origins (RFNBOs). It is produced using renewable electricity through Power to Liquid (PtL) technology that combines Green Hydrogen with Carbon captured from atmospheric CO₂. It offers the potential for even net negative emissions. SAF combustion produces far less harmful gases and particulate matter, contributing to cleaner skies. 

The adoption of these biofuels can lead to new demand for feedstock and open new revenue streams in agriculture and waste management. In addition, diversification of fuel sources in the aviation sector can help reduce import dependence and protect the sector from global oil price volatility. This, in turn, could lead to a more stable aviation sector, possibly making air travel accessible to larger sections of society. Moreover, SAF adoption will also generate employment opportunities in the sustainability sector. 

However, despite these benefits, there are a few barriers to the widespread adoption of SAF. First, the cost of producing these biofuels, which is more than double that of conventional fuels, makes its large-scale adoption difficult for airlines without passing the burden onto consumers.  

The production, storage, blending, and transportation of SAF require the development of new infrastructure, which would add significantly to the initial cost of adoption. Another key issue is the availability and sustainability of feedstock required for SAF production. The characteristics and variety of necessary feedstock mean that there is no guarantee of year-round supply. 

Further, there is a significant risk that the production process can have adverse environmental impacts if not managed properly. For SAF to be considered truly sustainable and to ensure a significant reduction in GHG emissions, it is crucial to ensure that its production does not have negative social or environmental impacts.

How SAF reshapes global and Indian aviation 

Notably, there is now a global push to increase the blending of SAF in commercial aviation. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) – the UN’s specialised agency for the development of air transport – has established the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). It mandates that international airlines must offset their emissions growth post-2020, and the use of SAF is incentivised as a compliance mechanism. 

Similarly, the European Union’s ReFuelEU Aviation initiative has introduced binding SAF blending targets, aiming for 2 per cent SAF by 2025, 6 per cent by 2030, and 70 per cent by 2050, with sub-mandates for synthetic fuels. Another innovative mechanism is the World Economic Forum’s Clean Skies for Tomorrow initiative, which has set the blending target of 10 per cent SAF by 2030. It also seeks to address the high cost of SAF through innovative financing and supportive policy frameworks. 

However, India has a nuanced and pragmatic approach to SAF, advocating for nationally determined targets rather than binding international mandates. India’s position is based on the twin goals of prioritising energy security and food security, and seeking to balance sustainability goals with passenger demand.

Despite these reservations, India is a party to the CORSIA and is positioning itself to be a key player in the global SAF landscape. Notably, the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) was launched by India during the G20 Summit in New Delhi in 2023 with the aim to expedite the worldwide adoption of biofuels, including SAF. 

India has also set SAF blending targets of 1 per cent for domestic airlines by 2025 and 1-2 per cent for international flights by 2027-2028, and 5 per cent by 2030 and the potential to scale up to 15 per cent by 2040. The abundant supply of agricultural residues bolsters India’s goal of becoming SAF exporter. However, challenges like high costs and underdeveloped supply chains need to be taken care of.

To address such issues, policies like tax incentives and public-private partnerships have been proposed. SAF presents a near-term, drop-in solution to reduce emissions from the aviation sector while longer term decarbonisation technologies continue to evolve.

Despite existing challenges, the international consensus to push for SAF through initiatives like the CORSIA and ReFuelEU offers hope for overcoming barriers to large-scale adoption. For India, SAF provides an opportunity to leverage its resources to be a market leader in the sector and make meaningful contributions to global decarbonisation efforts, while also keeping local realities and national priorities in mind.

Reference : https://indianexpress.com/article/upsc-current-affairs/upsc-essentials/how-indias-biofuel-potential-complements-its-leadership-in-saf-10116380/

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Balrampur Chini says that the initiative is positioned as a sustainable, “earth-to-earth” solution, representing a strategic milestone in reducing fossil-fuel reliance in packaging and single-use plastics, while unlocking new value for sugarcane, a key crop in northern India.

India’s first fully integrated PLA plant
BCML, one of India’s leading sugar manufacturing companies, has launched Balrampur Bioyug with an investment of Rs 2,850 crore in a phased manner. The PLA project will be operational at the end of 2026, as per the company. Guided by bio-circularity, Bioyug is not merely a plastic alternative but a holistic vision for sustainable manufacturing, says the company, adding that the first-of-its-kind initiative further aligns with national goals under Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat, offering a pathway for home-grown innovation to lead the global sustainability narrative.

“The Bioyug initiative is centred around a fully integrated facility that will convert sugarcane derivatives directly into PLA through a circular, renewable energy-powered process. This is the first facility globally to consolidate the entire PLA production cycle—from sugarcane to biopolymer—at a single site,” Avantika Saraogi, Executive Director at Balrampur Chini Mills, told ET Online.

The plant, located in Kumbhi, Uttar Pradesh, adjacent to BCML’s existing sugar mill, will produce annually 80,000 tonnes of PLA—a 100% compostable, plant-derived alternative to conventional plastic. The material, derived from renewable sources like sugarcane, will have applications across food service, packaging, biomedical, textiles, and 3D manufacturing.The plant also aims to produce PLA for products like food trays, curd cups, disposable cutlery, and packaging materials, according to the company.

What sets Bioyug apart
The company claims several elements make Bioyug a pioneering effort. Besides being India’s first industrial-scale PLA brand derived from sugarcane, it also boasts end-to-end integrated production—from agri-feedstock to biopolymer—at one location. It is also fully powered by renewable energy, significantly cutting lifecycle emissions, with direct value linkage to sugarcane farmers. Notably, it targets banned single-use plastics in packaging and food service.

“We are not just launching a brand—we are creating a platform to reimagine India’s agri-value chain,” said Saraogi, adding that Bioyug aligns with national priorities under the BioE3 and Bioplastic Policy frameworks and enables the conversion of agricultural surplus into high-grade, globally competitive green materials.

Among those present at the launch, S.K. Nayak, former DG of CIPET (The Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology), commended the initiative, underlining it would drive sustainability throughout the nation’s extensive sugarcane value chain, and said, “The launch of Bioyug marks a pivotal advancement in India’s biopolymer landscape—establishing the country’s first fully integrated PLA value chain, from biomass conversion to polymerisation, at a single site.This end-to-end model enhances operational efficiency, supports the circular economy, and contributes meaningfully to carbon footprint reduction through renewable, bio-based inputs.”

According to Stefan Barot, President of BCML’s Chemical Division, the Bioyug plant’s integrated, renewable energy-powered model sets a global standard for low-carbon, efficient production.

The initiative, whose name translates to ‘The Era of Bio-Circularity,’ is seen as a major step forward in India’s transition toward a bio-based, low-emission future. ‘Bio’ reflects the company’s focus on sustainable, plant-derived materials like PLA and its strong linkages with India’s agricultural ecosystem, particularly sugarcane farmers in Uttar Pradesh. Meanwhile, ‘Yug’—drawn from Sanskrit—symbolises the beginning of a new era founded on ecological responsibility and circular economy principles.

Empowering sugarcane farmers
The launch event, held at Mumbai’s Jio World Convention Centre, was attended by policymakers, scientists, and sustainability leaders, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Sarogi adds that the launch is expected to be a “game-changer” for sugarcane economies in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. By focusing on non-edible, high-value derivatives of sugarcane, BCML aims to reduce reliance on traditional sugar and ethanol markets and integrate Indian farmers into the global bioplastics supply chain.

“Through Bioyug, we are creating a new revenue pathway for sugarcane growers,” she said, adding that it links grassroots agriculture with advanced green manufacturing, helping rural India become a part of the circular economy.

Vivek Saraogi, Chairman & Managing Director, Balrampur Chini Mills Limited, says, “PLA is a bio-based, compostable material that emits 68% less CO₂ over its lifecycle compared to fossil-based plastics, offering an environmentally friendly alternative for a sustainable planet. This project is aimed at fuelling India’s journey towards achieving net zero emissions by 2070.”

According to Saraogi, India has the raw material and the intent, and now, with Bioyug, the country is seeing the first scaled demonstration of how sugarcane can power not just energy or ethanol—but materials that replace plastic. Saraogi further emphasised that PLA has the potential to be one of India’s strongest export stories from the bioeconomy, as it plays to our natural advantage in agri-residues and aligns perfectly with Atmanirbhar Bharat and the vision of Viksit Bharat.

The company expects Bioyug to catalyse MSME participation in downstream packaging and green innovation. The company has called for policy incentives to support early adoption, develop composting infrastructure, and spur market demand.

Reference : https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/sustainability/sugarcane-to-sustainability-india-gets-its-first-fully-integrated-pla-plant-as-balrampur-chini-unveils-bioyug/articleshow/122201573.cms

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