Key Terms & Concepts — UPSC Mains
Sustainable Aviation Fuel
"Low-carbon liquid jet fuels derived from used cooking oil, agricultural residues, and municipal waste — India targets 1% blend by 2027"
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) refers to liquid hydrocarbon fuels produced from non-petroleum feedstocks — including used cooking oil (UCO), agricultural residues, municipal solid waste, algae, and forestry waste — that can be blended with conventional jet fuel (ATF) and used in existing aircraft engines without modification. SAF reduces lifecycle carbon emissions by 50-80% compared to conventional jet fuel. India's SAF blending roadmap mandates 1% SAF blending by 2027 and 5% by 2030, aligned with ICAO's Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) commissioned India's first commercial SAF production facility at its Panipat refinery, using the HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) pathway with used cooking oil as primary feedstock. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Ministry of Civil Aviation jointly govern SAF policy.
Important for UPSC GS-3 (Environment — climate change mitigation, Energy — alternative fuels, Science and Technology — green chemistry). Aviation accounts for approximately 2.5% of global CO2 emissions and is considered a hard-to-abate sector. SAF is the primary decarbonisation pathway for aviation (electric aircraft remain decades away for long-haul). Questions may test SAF feedstocks, India's blending targets, CORSIA framework, and the role of IOC Panipat refinery.
- 1 Feedstocks — used cooking oil (UCO), agricultural residues, municipal solid waste, algae
- 2 India's blending targets — 1% by 2027, 5% by 2030
- 3 IOC Panipat refinery — India's first commercial SAF production facility (HEFA pathway)
- 4 Reduces lifecycle carbon emissions by 50-80% vs conventional jet fuel
- 5 Compatible with existing aircraft engines — no modification needed (drop-in fuel)
- 6 Aligned with ICAO CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation)
- 7 Aviation contributes approximately 2.5% of global CO2 emissions