Hyderabad: Airbus and the CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum (CSIR-IIP) have formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the development, testing, and qualification of indigenous sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in India, reported The Hindu.
This partnership aims to support the Indian aerospace industry’s efforts to decarbonize by focusing on the production and commercialization of SAF, utilizing a new HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) technology pathway and locally sourced feedstocks.
The collaboration between Airbus and CSIR-IIP will involve joint efforts in technical assessments, regulatory approvals, market access, and sustainability accreditation for SAF production. Harender Singh Bisht, Director of CSIR-IIP, highlighted the significant impact SAF can have on the industry’s decarbonization goals. He acknowledged that increasing SAF uptake faces challenges related to production scale-up and addressing cost differentials between SAF and conventional jet fuel.
Currently, all Airbus aircraft are certified to operate on a 50% SAF blend, with the ultimate objective of achieving 100% SAF compatibility by 2030. The collaboration with CSIR-IIP is seen as a crucial step towards reaching this goal. CSIR-IIP will conduct studies on fuel properties using the new HEFA pathway and assess their impact on aircraft systems and the environment. In return, Airbus will guide the evaluation process for new fuels, sharing its expertise in fuel testing and aircraft systems.
Remi Maillard, President and Managing Director of Airbus India and South Asia, expressed optimism in India’s potential to emerge as a global SAF production hub, leveraging available feedstocks, local talent, technological expertise, and the nation’s capability to scale up sustainable solutions.
