New Delhi. Boeing and the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) on September 29 launched a comprehensive report assessing India’s readiness for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) adoption, providing an evidence-based roadmap for the country’s next phase of SAF development. The report finds India’s overall SAF readiness to be 52%, indicating moderate but advancing readiness as the country moves from early-stage development toward wider SAF adoption.
The report examines and uncovers strengths and opportunities in India’s SAF adoption journey, as aviation demand continues to grow. It has been developed by RSB using a methodology which evaluates India’s preparedness across nine dimensions — feedstock, production capacity, policy and regulation, supply chains and logistics, market demand, investment and financing, research and development, technology readiness, and enabling infrastructure and services.
India has set blending targets of 1% by 2027, 2% by 2028, and 5% by 2030, and is committed to participate in the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) from 2027. Under a 5% blending scenario in 2030, SAF demand covering both domestic and international aviation is projected at approximately 720 million litres (about 0.6 million tons per year), compared with an estimated production potential of 14–33 million tons per year.
Aligned with the industry, Boeing is committed to support airline customers and policymakers in India and globally in achieving their emissions reduction goals by helping to build a robust SAF ecosystem.
“As one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets, India has an important role in enabling sustainable aviation – and pursuing a deliberate and well-researched path to SAF adoption is key.” said Salil Gupte, president, Boeing India & South Asia. “This report is valuable because it confirms exactly where India has the foundational capacity to enable SAF adoption and because it identifies specific opportunities ahead,” Gupte added.
RSB’s analysis shows that India’s opportunity will depend not only on production potential, but on the coordinated development of the wider enabling ecosystem.
“India’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel opportunity is substantial. This assessment gives stakeholders a common evidence base from which to act, and RSB looks forward to continuing to convene and support the collaboration needed to translate India’s potential into sustainable impact,” said RSB’s Executive Director, Bettina Paschke.
Coordinated action and collaboration across government, industry, financiers, and other stakeholders will be important to support the development of the SAF market in India.
