Taking Flight on Green Wings
Bio-Jet Fuel for a Sustainable Future
The aviation industry, a vital driver of global connectivity, faces a significant challenge - its dependence on fossil fuels and the environmental impact it creates. Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), a constituent laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has pioneered the development of indigenous bio-jet fuel technology to address this challenge. This revolutionary technological innovation promises a greener future for aviation, reducing air pollution and contributing to India's net-zero emission goals.
Milestones in Bio-Jet Fuel Innovation
CSIR-IIP's journey with bio-jet fuel began with a historic event - India's first-ever biofuel-powered flight in 2018. Taking off from Dehradun to Delhi, this flight utilised bio-jet fuel produced by CSIR-IIP's patented technology using Jatropha oil. This marked a significant milestone, show-casing the potential of sustainable alternatives to conventional aircraft fuels.
The success story continued, with the support of the Indian Air Force (IAF), and, in a first-of-its-kind operation, an IAF AN-32 aircraft, powered by a 10% blend of CSIR-IIP's bio-jet fuel, conducted a flight at Leh, one of the world's highest airports. This rigorous test under extreme conditions demonstrated the fuel's viability in real-world scenarios.
After these successful trials, CSIR's bio-jet fuel technology was formally approved for use in IAF aircraft. This certification, a testament to years of research and testing, signifies India's growing confidence in its bio-aviation sector. It aligns perfectly with the vision of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat,' promoting self-reliance in critical technologies.
Striving for Global Recognition
CSIR is actively pursuing international certification for its bio-jet fuel, a critical step for its adoption in commercial aviation. This international recognition will pave the way for commercial airlines to embrace Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and reduce their carbon footprint.
The Ingenious Science behind CSIR'S Bio-Jet Fuel
Unlike conventional jet fuel derived from petroleum, this biofuel is produced from renewable sources like used cooking oil, tree-borne oils, and short-gestation oilseed crops cultivated by farmers during off-seasons. This not only promotes environmental sustainability but also empowers farmers and tribal communities involved in the production and collection of these non-edible oils. Compared to conventional jet fuel, CSIR's bio jet fuel boasts an ultra-low sulfur content, significantly reducing air pollution. This aligns with India's ambitious goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to a cleaner and healthier planet.
The development of this technology involved extensive research and meticulous testing. To ensure the bio-jet fuel meets stringent international aviation safety standards, CSIR-IIP collaborated with various agencies, like Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL), and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL). Rigorous ground and in-flight tests assessed performance, reliability, and impact on aircraft operations.
The successful development and certification of CSIR's bio-jet fuel technology marks a significant achievement for Indian science and technology. It demonstrates India's commitment to sustainable aviation and positions the country as a leader in developing innovative solutions for a greener future. This indigenous technology has the potential to revolutionise the aviation industry, paving the way for cleaner skies and a sustainable future for air travel.
Economic Opportunities and Employment Generation
Beyond environmental benefits, CSIR's bio-jet fuel technology offers significant economic benefits. The commercial production of SAF will create new job opportunities across various sectors. Farmers can cultivate the oilseeds, boosting their income and promoting rural development. New production facilities will be required to convert the feedstock into bio-jet fuel, generating additional employment.
Challenges
As the technology matures and production ramps up, India will become a major exporter of bio-jet fuel. This would not only strengthen the domestic economy but would also position India as a leader in the global SAF market. However, several challenges need to be overcome to realise this dream, such as sustainable feedstock supply and investment in setting up new facilities.
Establishing a robust and sustainable supply chain for feedstock is crucial for large-scale bio-jet fuel production. A major challenge is identifying and cultivating suitable oilseed crops that can be grown on marginal lands without impacting food security or causing deforestation. As Jatropha, the feedstock used in initial trials, faced criticism for its potential to compete with food production, CSIR is actively exploring alternative feedstocks like used cooking oil, tree-borne oils, and short-gestation oilseed crops that can be integrated into existing agricultural practices.
Another critical challenge is cost reduction. Bio-jet fuel currently remains more expensive than conventional jet fuel. Optimising production processes to improve efficiency and yield is essential for making bio-jet fuel commercially competitive. Advancements in feedstock cultivation, conversion technologies, and fuel refining are key to reducing production costs and making bio-jet fuel a viable option.
Continued Innovation
CSIR's scientists are constantly striving to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of bio-jet fuel production. Research efforts are focused on several key areas:
· Developing new feedstock options: Identifying and evaluating alternative sources of sustainable biomass, such as algae or dedicated energy crops, which can potentially offer higher yields and lower environmental impact.
· Exploring alternative conversion technologies: There is a need for new methods for converting agriculture and forest residue biomass into bio-jet fuel. This may involve exploring advanced techniques like hydrothermal liquefaction or gasification, which offer the potential for increased efficiency and flexibility in feedstock selection.
· Optimising existing processes: CSIR scientiste are finding ways of refining current production methods to improve conversion rates, reduce waste generation, and ultimately reduce production costs.
Educating for Change
To achieve widespread adoption of bio-jet fuels, public awareness campaigns are essential. Educating flyers and stakeholders about the environmental benefits of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) will encourage them to support airlines that embrace this technology. Additionally, information can be disseminated on how passengers can contribute by choosing airlines that offer SAF options or participating in carbon offset programmes that utilise bio-jet fuel.
Interview
Dr. Harender Singh Bisht
Director, CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum
Q: Please elaborate on the process and key innovations that led to the indigenous development of bio-jet fuel technology at CSIR-IIP.
A: CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun, has developed a single-step process to convert lipids (plant-derived oil and animal-derived fats) into hydrocarbons using a unique patented catalyst composition. It is a single-reactor Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) process, similar to the two-step HEFA process, except that the product contains the required aromatics.
The highlights of the CSIR-IIP process are mentioned below:
· Single-step catalytic HEFA process
· High feed flexibility, suitable for multiple feedstocks
· SAF yields upto 55%
· Composition similar to ATF having cyclic paraffin, paraffin, and aromatics of C7 to C15 Carbons
· Patented non-noble metal-based catalyst
· General usage authorisation for the Indian Air Force (Provisional Clearance Certificate issued by CEMILAC subject to OEM concurrence)
· 1TPD plant installed in Gujarat for green diesel production
· The demo plant of 9000TPA SAF will be ready by 2027 at MRPL, Mangalore
Q: What are the main challenges and strategies involved in scaling up the production of bio-jet fuel to meet the demands of the aviation industry?
A: The two major challenges involved in the scale-up of the process are the pre-treatment of the feedstock and the sustainable supply of the feed at a commercial scale. Vegetable oils contain a significant amount (300-500 PPM) of impurities like metals and chlorides, which must be removed entirely before converting into bio-jet fuel to maintain catalyst life. The technical challenge was overcome with our in-house developed pre-treatment process. The in-house developed process achieved a total metal reduction of less than <10PPM. The feed oil contains metals 200-300 PPM.
Feedstock supply is another major challenge. CSIR-IIP is working with an NGO in Dehradun to collect UCO and a few other suppliers to collect non-edible vegetable oil. The feed is used in a pilot plant facility in Dehradun. A survey of the feedstock supply chain is being conducted for commercial plants.
Q: How is CSIR-IIP addressing the challenge of developing a sustainable and robust supply chain for bio-jet fuel feedstocks, particularly regarding the cultivation of non-food crops on marginal lands?
A: CSIR-IIP is involved with one of the NGOs (SDC Foundation) in field surveys identifying UCO suppliers in Uttarakhand region with the commercial plant feedstock requirement target. Once the quantity is established in the Uttarakhand region, a similar approach would be used to cover major cities in India. Suppliers will be identified to confirm the stable feedstock supply for commercial-scale plants. The minimum price availability of the feedstock would be included in the survey. CSIR-IIP is also involved in cultivating Brassica Carinata (Ethiopian mustard) as a short rotation crop. The seed and oil yield based on the cultivation is being evaluated.
Contributed by: Science Media Communication Cell (SMCC), CSIR-NIScPR, New Delhi.