Uttar Pradesh has launched India’s first Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Manufacturing Promotion Policy-2025 to turn agricultural waste into jet fuel.
UP Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh shared the strategy with investors and business executives at an Invest UP event in Lucknow.
The SAF policy aims to empower farmers and increase green energy by utilizing biomass and surplus grains like sugarcane bagasse, rice husk, and wheat straw.
Mr. Singh said that more than 18 companies, including Greencore, AM Greens, and E20 Greenfuels, have expressed interest in investing Rs 3,000 crore.
Key aspects of the SAF policy include:
Raw materials: The policy targets the conversion of readily available agricultural residues such as sugarcane bagasse, rice husk, and wheat straw into sustainable aviation fuel.
This addresses the issue of stubble burning, a major contributor to air pollution.
Benefits for farmers: The initiative is expected to directly benefit approximately 25 crore farmers by creating new markets for their crop waste.
Farmers can sell agricultural residues to industrial units, ensuring better prices and income while reducing environmental harm caused by residue burning.
Alignment with decarbonization goals: According to the UP government, this policy is the first of its kind in India and aligns with global decarbonization efforts in the aviation sector.
By utilizing renewable sources, SAF has the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional jet fuel.
Policy formulation: The state government has assured stakeholder feedback will be incorporated into the policy framework before its final approval, ensuring a comprehensive and practical approach.
This initiative is seen as a crucial step towards integrating agricultural waste-based biofuels into India’s aviation fuel mix, promoting rural economic upliftment, and contributing to climate change mitigation.
