ISMA partners TERI, Praj Industries to bolster SAF in India

The Indian Sugar & Bio Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) has signed MOUs with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and PRAJ Industries to accelerate the development of sustainable bioenergy solutions in the country.

ISMA official statement held that this partnership focuses on mainly on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) while also exploring opportunities in Bio-Ethanol, Bio-Gas, Green Bio-Hydrogen, and Green Methanol.

The collaboration is intended to foster a bio-economy and create a low-carbon energy infrastructure in India, playing a pivotal role in facilitating knowledge exchange, policy advocacy, and capacity building between industry and government.

With the aviation industry’s carbon footprint increasing annually, the MOUs of ISMA serve as a crucial step in advancing India’s adoption of bioenergy solutions. The agreement will support the India’s goal of blending 1% SAF with Aviation Turbine Fuel by 2027.

Deepak Ballani, Director General of ISMA, said, “Our partnerships with TERI and PRAJ Industries are more than just collaborations; they represent a shared commitment to a greener future. SAF, derived from renewable resources, offers the potential to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions—one of the aviation sector’s greatest challenges. Through this collaboration, we will harness policy expertise of TERI and technological innovations of PRAJ to overcome these challenges and build a resilient bioenergy ecosystem.”

Aviation currently accounts for about 3% of global carbon emissions, producing nearly 1 billion metric tonnes annually. As the sector’s contribution to carbon emissions continues to rise, the urgency for alternatives to traditional jet fuels grows. India’s sugarcane industry, particularly bagasse, offers a promising solution for SAF production, given its abundant availability, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and cost-effective technology.

To bolster SAF projects’ development in India, GPS Renewables recently partnered with Dubai-based SAF One through its project platform called ARYA.