India's Rise as a Sustainable Aviation Fuel Export Giant: The Ethanol Advantage

India is poised to become a significant export hub for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), notably due to its ethanol surplus and lower carbon intensity than competitors. Initiatives are underway, emphasizing economic and environmental advantages, with anticipations of operational plants by 2029, bolstered by policy support.

India is strategically positioning itself to become a major export hub for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), banking on its surplus ethanol capacity and favorable carbon intensity compared to other producers like Brazil, according to the CEO of Triveni Engineering and Industries, Sameer Sinha.

In a recent interview, Sinha talked about India's competitive edge in the emerging SAF market, predicting the first alcohol-to-jet fuel plants could be operational by 2029, provided there is policy clarity by the financial year's end. To date, India's SAF production largely relies on limited used cooking oil supplies, sufficient only for 1-2% blending.

Sinha emphasized India's significant potential as an SAF export hub to Southeast Asian and West Asian countries, such as Singapore and Dubai. A key strength is its substantial ethanol surplus, with current production well above domestic consumption needs, offering a competitive advantage in the global market.