India visions to emerge as an energy exporter highlighted at CMAI’s India Climate Week

By Staff Report February 6, 2025 11:43 am IST

Synergising agriculture with energy and power sector is a crucial role for farmers and to make them the hydrogen providers for the country”: Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road, Transport and Highways, Government of India, while addressing the CMAI India Climate Week.

In a landmark initiative to decarbonise aviation and position India as a global leader in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), the India SAF Alliance was officially launched at the India Climate Week 2025 on 4th February, a gathering of policymakers, industry leaders, and technology pioneers, organised by the Carbon Markets Association of India. The event witnessed the presence of Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, alongside prominent figures in the biofuels and aviation sectors, underlining the Alliance’s ambition to revolutionise air travel sustainability.

An alliance for India

In his speech for building sustainable transport and green infrastructure for a sustainable future, Nitin Gadkari emphasised the need for transformative policies to integrate SAF into India’s aviation industry. ”The futuristic vision, development and planning is very important. Presently we are the importer of the energy and our dream is to exporter of the energy.” Shri Nitin Gadkari also shared his vision on the biomass, biofuels, corn methanol and government efforts on waste utilisation in various sectors. He appreciated the CMAI India SAF Alliance, and its stakeholders and extended his support for future.

Pioneering a greener future for aviation

The India SAF Alliance, spearheaded by industry stalwarts and policymakers, aims to establish a robust ecosystem for SAF production, adoption, and innovation. This initiative aligns with India’s commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2070 and reducing aviation’s carbon footprint.

Jimmy Olsson, Chairperson, India SAF Alliance (Founder, ZR2 Group), remarked on the vision and mission of the Alliance. “At the heart of our vision lies the aspiration to make SAF sustainable and affordable. By fostering innovation and collaboration, we are setting the foundation for India to lead the global SAF revolution.”

Vijay Nirani, Co-Chairperson, India SAF Alliance (Founder, Trualt Bioenergy), said that there is a critical need for this alliance. He emphasised India’s potential to become a hub for SAF production, leveraging its agricultural and technological strengths. “This initiative represents a significant leap in India’s efforts to reduce aviation emissions. With ambitious targets of a 1% SAF blend by 2027, 2% by 2028, and 5% by 2030, we are creating a blueprint for sustainable aviation in India and beyond.”

Scaling sustainable aviation globally

India aims to achieve 10% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blending with conventional jet fuel by 2030, aligning with its carbon reduction and renewable energy goals. As the world’s third-largest aviation market, India is poised for rapid growth, increasing the demand for sustainable solutions like SAF. The global SAF market is set to grow significantly by 2030.

“CMAI has been at the forefront of accelerating India’s transition to a sustainable, net-zero future. Our mission is to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors and support India’s climate and sustainability goals. We gather for one of the most important initiatives of CMAI—the India SAF Alliance. This initiative is paramount for sectoral emission mitigation in hard-to-abate sectors, like aviation,” said Rohit Kumar, Secretary General, CMAI. The India SAF Alliance focuses on three goals: reducing aviation emissions, generating Scope 3 mitigation credits, and empowering farmers through green jobs and agricultural residue management. This initiative positions India as a leader in sustainable aviation while supporting socio-economic development.