Countries must be allowed to prepare own plans for SAF: India

Subject : Economy

Section : Msc

Concept :

India on Wednesday asserted that global mandates for Sustainable Aviation Fuel with 2050 as the target year was “too early” and that each State must be allowed to develop its strategy as per its national plans.
It also sought support from the UN Aviation watchdog ICAO to achieve carbon net zero goals alongside other priorities in the aviation sector such as growing aspirations of passengers.
The 41st International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Assembly adopted a long-term global aspirational goal (LTAG) for international aviation of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 in support of the UNFCCC Paris Agreement’s goal to limit global warming to 1.5 degree celsius and reach net zero by 2050.
This was preceded by a resolution at the 77th IATA Annual General Meeting in Boston, USA, on October 4, 2021, where a resolution was passed by member airlines committing them to achieving net-zero carbon emissions from their operations by 2050.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), also referred to as bio-jet fuel, is created using domestically developed methods using cooking oil and oil-rich seeds from plants.
The SAF samples produced by the institutes are undergoing strict testing at the US Federal Aviation Administration Clearinghouse to meet the standards required for the ASTM D4054 certification from ASTM International.
Sources of Production:
- The CSIR-IIP has created fuel using different materials, such as non-edible and edible oils, as well as used cooking oil.
- They used various sources, including palm stearin, sapium oil, palm fatty acid distillates, algae oil, karanja, and jatropha.
Benefits of SAF Scaling in India:
- Scaling up the production and use of SAF in India can bring several benefits, including reducing GHG emissions, improving air quality, enhancing energy security, creating jobs in the renewable energy sector, and promoting sustainable development.
- It can also help the aviation industry meet its environmental targets and contribute to global efforts to combat climate change.
Biofuel for aviation can be mixed with regular jet fuel and used together. Compared to traditional fuel, it has lower sulfur content, which can decrease air pollution and support India’s goal of achieving Net Zero emissions.

ASTM Certification

ASTM International, formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials, is a global organization that develops and publishes technical standards for a wide range of products, materials, and systems.
ASTM standards are used by industry, governments, and other organizations to ensure quality, safety and reliability in products and processes.
ASTM certification is a process by which a product or material is tested and evaluated against relevant ASTM standards.
Certification can be used to demonstrate that a product or material meets certain requirements, such as performance specifications, safety standards, or environmental regulations etc.