NTPC awards EPC contract to GPS Renewables for India’s maiden Ethanol-to-Jet (ETJ) SAF project

GPS Renewables (GPSR) has officially commenced the construction of India’s first Ethanol-to-Jet (ETJ) Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) plant. The company was awarded the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract by NTPC Limited for this groundbreaking project.

Located at NTPC Green Energy Limited’s Green Hydrogen Hub in Pudimadaka, within the APIIC industrial area at Atchuthapuram, Anakapalle district, the plant aims to establish domestic capacity for SAF production in India.

GPS Renewables will lead the project, working alongside esteemed technology and engineering partners. Lummus Technology will provide the ETJ technology license and basic engineering, while Xytel India will handle the detailed engineering of the core process package.

The scope of GPS Renewables’ involvement covers all aspects of the project, including engineering, procurement, construction, start-up, and commissioning. The company will also oversee the hydrogen generation systems, as well as offsite and utility infrastructure. The plant is expected to be completed by March 2029, followed by one year of post-commissioning operations.

The facility is designed to produce 1,800 tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel annually, using ethanol derived from carbon dioxide. The process involves converting ethanol to ethylene, followed by olefins oligomerization and hydroprocessing to produce SAF and renewable diesel.

“Sustainable Aviation Fuel stands out as the most promising option for reducing emissions in a hard-to-abate sector like aviation,” said Mainak Chakraborty, Co-founder and CEO, GPS Renewables. However, viable commercial-scale production of SAF is still limited. At GPS Renewables, we have always prioritised technologies that can accelerate India’s transition to clean energy. Our collaboration with Lummus Technology reflects that commitment. Through this partnership, our aim is to bring a proven pathway to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel from ethanol and enable the large-scale production of SAF in India.”

“This project represents a major milestone for Lummus, bringing our ethanol to jet technology from concept to commercial reality,” said Romain Lemoine, Chief Business Officer, Lummus Technology. “By leveraging our integrated solution, GPS will deliver a scalable SAF configuration with reduced capital and operating costs and lower carbon intensity. India’s strong ethanol ecosystem provides an ideal launch environment and supports future global deployment.”

Headquartered in Bengaluru, GPS Renewables specializes in renewable fuel technologies, including biogas and compressed biogas plants. The company has strong partnerships with public-sector oil companies, working to expand biofuel infrastructure across India.