GPS, CSIR-NCL launch India’s first ethanol-to-SAF tech
GPS Renewables and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL) have joined hands to launch NG SAF, India’s first indigenous commercial-scale technology to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) from ethanol. This breakthrough could position India as a leader in next-generation aviation fuels.
Ethanol-to-SAF: A breakthrough pathway
While many global players have demonstrated ethanol-to-jet processes at the lab scale, industrial-scale production has never been achieved. Through this collaboration, GPS Renewables will commercialise CSIR-NCL’s patented catalyst technology, enabling one-step oligomerisation of ethylene and olefins to replicate Aviation Turbine Fuel. The project, branded NG SAF, will be India’s first ethanol-to-jet commercial-scale plant.
“We are thrilled to partner with CSIR-NCL to build an indigenous and breakthrough SAF technology that can position India as a leader in SAF production. At GPS, we have always prioritised technology that can fast-track India’s transition to clean energy, and this collaboration reflects that commitment. With NG SAF, we aim to change that,” said Gomatam Ravi, CTO, GPS Renewables.
Overcoming India’s feedstock challenge
Currently, most SAF is produced globally through the HEFA route, which depends on used cooking oil and animal fats. In India, this is impractical due to limited UCO collection and import restrictions. Instead, ethanol derived from 2G biomass will serve as the feedstock for NG SAF, offering a home-grown, scalable solution for decarbonising aviation.
“Scientific research, when coupled with industry collaboration, can create promising solutions to address global challenges. This indigenous technology, named NG SAF, can be a game-changer to decarbonise the aviation sector,” said Dr Ashish Lele, Director, CSIR-NCL.
A world-class team driving innovation
Highlighting the strong advisory and engineering expertise behind the project, Mainak Chakraborty, Co-Founder and CEO of GPS Renewables, added: “The technical advisory team to the NG SAF project is a thing of dreams, all of whom have come together to make NG SAF a reality.”
This article has been republished from The Manufacturing Today.