India's Sustainable Aviation Fuel readiness surpasses 50 percent: Report

Mumbai: India's overall Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) readiness is estimated to be around 52 per cent, indicating moderate but advancing readiness as the country moves from early-stage development towards wider SAF adoption, a report said on Tuesday.

The joint report by US aircraft major Boeing and Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) also shows that India's opportunity will depend not only on production potential, but on the coordinated development of the wider enabling ecosystem.

India has set blending targets of 1 per cent by 2027, 2 per cent by 2028 and eventually 5 per cent by 2030.


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The country is also committed to participating in the International Civil Aviation Organization's Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) from 2027.

Under a 5 per cent blending scenario in 2030, SAF demand covering both domestic and international aviation is projected at approximately 720 million litres (about 0.6 million tonnes per year), compared with an estimated production potential of 14-33 million tonnes per year, as per the report.

The report carries out a comprehensive assessment of India's readiness for SAF adoption, providing an evidence-based roadmap for the country's next phase of SAF development.

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"The report finds India's overall SAF readiness to be 52 per cent, indicating moderate but advancing readiness as the country moves from early-stage development toward wider SAF adoption," it said.

The report examines and uncovers strengths and opportunities in India's SAF adoption journey, as aviation demand continues to grow. It has been developed by RSB using a methodology which evaluates India's preparedness across nine dimensions - feedstock, production capacity, policy and regulation, supply chains and logistics, market demand, investment and financing, research and development, technology readiness, and enabling infrastructure and services.

"As one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets, India has an important role in enabling sustainable aviation and pursuing a deliberate and well-researched path to SAF adoption is key," said Salil Gupte, president, Boeing India and South Asia.

"This report is valuable because it confirms exactly where India has the foundational capacity to enable SAF adoption and because it identifies specific opportunities ahead," Gupte added.

Aligned with the industry, the report stated, Boeing is committed to supporting airline customers and policymakers in India and globally in achieving their emissions reduction goals by helping to build a robust SAF ecosystem.

"India's Sustainable Aviation Fuel opportunity is substantial. This assessment gives stakeholders a common evidence base from which to act, and RSB looks forward to continuing to convene and support the collaboration needed to translate India's potential into sustainable impact," said RSB's Executive Director, Bettina Paschke.

Coordinated action and collaboration across government, industry, financiers, and other stakeholders will be important to support the development of the SAF market in India, it stated.