NTPC Limited is implementing its plans to develop an SAF plant from ethanol that would be created using flue gases.

The plant is expected to be located within the green hydrogen hub operated by NTPC Green Energy Limited in Pudimadaka, Andhra Pradesh. The capacity of this plant will be around 1,800 tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel per year based on the production of ethanol from captured carbon emissions.

Based on the statements from the parties involved in the process, the plant will use the ethanol-to-ethylene conversion, olefin oligomerization, and hydroprocessing technologies to produce jet fuel from ethanol. Renewable diesel will also be made.

Under the engineering, procurement, and construction contract signed by the project, GPS Renewables will carry out the project with the help of Lummus Technology and Xytel India.

Ethanol-to-Jet (ETJ) technology license and process engineering for the plant would be provided by Lummus Technology.

The project is scheduled for completion by March 2029. One year post-commissioning, GPS Renewables will provide support with commissioning and operations.

This initiative occurs against the backdrop of efforts undertaken by India to explore alternative fuels for emission-heavy sectors. Among the sectors being explored is that of aviation. There have been initiatives to explore sustainable aviation fuel as an alternative to jet fuel as part of efforts to bring down aviation emissions.

India's expansion in the ethanol blending program has been another reason for the country to show interest in domestically produced sustainable aviation fuel.

Pudimadaka is among the renewable/low-carbon projects initiated by NTPC in green hydrogen, renewable energy power generation, and carbon capture and utilization.

Sustainable aviation fuel production at commercial scale continues to face production cost and technology challenges. The project aims to look into the feasibility of making aviation fuel using industrial emissions on an industrial scale.