India can convert agricultural waste and cheap green hydrogen into sustainable aviation fuel, cutting emissions and energy dependency.
NEW DELHI
India has the potential to transform its massive agricultural waste and low-cost green hydrogen into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). According to reports, creating a power-and-biomass-to-liquids (PBtL) industry could successfully tackle the country’s growing environmental and energy dependency challenges.
The research was co-authored by the India Energy and Climate Centre, UC Berkeley, and Energy Innovation Policy and Technology. It highlights that India currently faces major threats from its rapid development. These include a heavy reliance on imported crude oil, rising aviation emissions, and severe air pollution caused by farmers burning crop residue. However, the nation can counter these issues by leveraging its supply chains for agricultural waste and uniquely cheap green hydrogen.
The innovative PBtL process works by gasifying surplus crop waste, such as rice and wheat straw. This material is then combined with green hydrogen and converted into liquid jet fuel. Because of India’s low resource costs, this method can produce aviation fuel at prices up to 40 percent below global benchmarks.
Experts suggest that before this eco-friendly fuel competes directly with traditional fossil fuels domestically, it can profitably serve the rising international demand. This strategy would also protect India against sudden global oil price spikes. The report projects that production costs could fall below fossil fuel prices by the 2030s, eventually generating enough clean fuel to satisfy all of India’s aviation demand by 2050.
Furthermore, the technology is fully ready for commercial use. It outperforms alternative green fuels in cost, carbon reduction, and resource efficiency. A detailed regional analysis shows that surplus crop waste and cheap hydrogen are highly concentrated near airports in Delhi, Mumbai, and Pune, making these ideal zones for early manufacturing hubs.
The report concludes that with smart policies and early investments, India can overcome initial deployment barriers. This shift would unlock a beneficial cycle of large-scale production, ultimate cost reductions, and improved public health, while cementing India’s position as a global leader in climate action.