India’s First Ethanol-To-Jet Fuel Plant Launched
India’s first ethanol-to-jet fuel plant has been launched in Andhra Pradesh, marking a major step in the country’s push for sustainable aviation fuel and cleaner transport energy. The project is expected to support India’s long-term aviation decarbonisation goals.
Ethanol-To-Jet Fuel Plant In Andhra Pradesh
The plant will be developed near Visakhapatnam as part of NTPC Green Energy Limited’s green hydrogen hub in the Pudimadaka region. NTPC has awarded the engineering, procurement and construction contract to GPS Renewables for the project.
The facility will use ethanol as feedstock to produce sustainable aviation fuel, also known as SAF. The fuel is expected to help reduce carbon emissions from the aviation sector, which remains one of the harder transport segments to decarbonise.
India Sustainable Aviation Fuel Push
The plant is expected to produce around 1,800 tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel annually. The production process will involve ethanol-to-ethylene conversion, olefin oligomerisation and hydroprocessing to make SAF and renewable diesel.
Lummus Technology will provide the ethanol-to-jet technology licence and basic engineering support, while Xytel India will handle detailed engineering for the core process package.
Project Completion Expected By 2029
GPS Renewables will oversee construction, commissioning and one year of post-commissioning operation. The project scope is expected to run through March 2029.
The project comes as India is exploring cleaner fuel options for aviation and allowing blending of ethanol and synthetic fuels in jet fuel. While commercial-scale SAF production is still limited, the Andhra Pradesh plant could become an important pilot for future expansion in India’s green aviation fuel ecosystem.
