India has taken a significant step towards reducing aviation emissions by presenting the findings of a feasibility study on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The study, conducted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) with support from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the European Union, identifies viable pathways for producing and deploying SAF in India. The meeting, chaired by Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, was attended by various stakeholders, including aviation secretary Samir Kumar Sinha, ICAO representatives, oil companies, and representatives from Boeing and Airbus.
The study aims to set the stage for a policy and implementation roadmap to cut aviation emissions as the sector expands rapidly. India’s aviation sector is among the fastest-growing in the world, with 24 crore passengers recorded in 2024 and numbers projected to double by 2030. Aviation fuel consumption is expected to reach 16 million tonnes by 2030 and 31 million tonnes by 2040. To balance this growth with climate commitments, SAF will play a central role, with the potential to cut lifecycle emissions by up to 80%.
The government has set phased blending targets, including 1% of total fuel for international flights by 2027, 2% by 2028, and 5% by 2030. Indian Oil’s Panipat refinery has already been certified as the country’s first SAF producer, with production expected to begin by the year-end. India is well-positioned to become a global leader in SAF, with its large agricultural base, availability of surplus biomass, and strong refining capacity. Estimates suggest that India could produce 8-10 million tonnes of SAF annually by 2040, more than domestic demand, opening export opportunities and creating up to 1.4 million green jobs.
In addition to SAF, India is also investing in green hydrogen, with Cochin airport setting up the world’s first airport-based hydrogen production facility. NTPC and IOC are also developing large-scale SAF and hydrogen projects. Currently, 88 airports in India run entirely on green energy, and Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad airports are carbon neutral. The use of SAF is expected to reduce crude oil imports by an estimated $5-7 billion annually and boost farmer incomes through the use of crop residue. The findings of the study will be presented at the 42nd session of the ICAO Assembly, which will be held later this month in Montreal.