GPS Renewables, a prominent global player in renewable oil and gas solutions, has announced a partnership with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL) to develop a groundbreaking commercial-scale process for producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) from ethanol. This innovative technology, which can also be adapted for SAF production from methanol, promises to pave the way for more sustainable aviation fuel production.
Under the partnership, GPS Renewables will invest in advancing technology based on a CSIR-NCL-patented catalyst. This technology will enable the one-step oligomerization of ethylene and other olefins, where smaller molecules are combined to form larger molecules similar to Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF). While the Ethanol-to-Jet Fuel process has been successfully demonstrated at the laboratory scale, achieving commercial-scale production has remained a challenge.
With the exclusive license for CSIR-NCL’s technology, GPS Renewables will build a commercial-scale plant under the project brand NG SAF, aiming to launch the first large-scale Ethanol-to-Jet production facility. GPS Renewables has secured the exclusive rights to commercialize this promising technology.
Currently, SAF is primarily produced through the HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) pathway, using feedstocks like Used Cooking Oil (UCO) and animal fats. However, this method is not viable on a large scale in India due to challenges such as a lack of an organized UCO collection system and FSSAI restrictions on UCO imports. These barriers make scaling SAF production through the HEFA route difficult in India, emphasizing the need for an alternative, domestic solution. Ethanol derived from 2G (second-generation) biomass is expected to play a significant role in India’s agri-biomass ecosystem and will serve as the key feedstock for the CSIR-NCL-GPS SAF production.
Gomatam Ravi, CTO of GPS Renewables, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “Partnering with CSIR-NCL to develop an indigenous, cutting-edge SAF technology positions India as a potential global leader in SAF production. At GPS, we’ve always focused on technologies that accelerate India’s clean energy transition, and this partnership is a testament to that commitment. While many have showcased the Ethanol-to-SAF process at the lab scale, none have succeeded in scaling it up to industrial levels. With NG SAF, we plan to change that. With our experience in scaling cleantech solutions and CSIR-NCL’s scientific expertise, we are confident in delivering a commercially viable SAF solution to the global market.”
Dr. Ashish Lele, Director of CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, emphasized the importance of industry collaboration in advancing scientific breakthroughs, saying, “At CSIR-NCL, our strength lies in working alongside industry leaders to transform innovative ideas into commercially deployable solutions. This collaboration is an example of how scientific research and industry partnerships can offer promising solutions to global challenges. The NG SAF technology, based on our patented oligomerization process, could be a game-changer in decarbonizing the aviation industry. GPS Renewables, with its proven track record in clean fuels, is the perfect partner to bring this technology to the market.”
Mainak Chakraborty, Co-Founder and CEO of GPS Renewables, highlighted the exceptional team driving the NG SAF project. He said, “The technical advisory team behind the NG SAF project is truly exceptional, including notable experts such as Dr. Anjan Ray (Former Director, UOP and Indian Institute of Petroleum), Dr. Arvind Lali (Retired Professor, ICT Mumbai), Dr. Ashish Lele (Director, NCL), Gomatam Ravi (Former Head, Shell Technology Center), Dr. Samir Chikkali (Humboldt Fellow, NCL), among others. Our engineering team, with 120 experts hailing from organizations like Petrofac, Petronas, Technip, Toyo, McDermott, L&T, and more, brings decades of combined experience to make NG SAF a reality.”
This partnership signals a significant leap forward in the development of sustainable aviation fuel, showcasing the potential for locally sourced and scalable solutions to help address global aviation’s carbon footprint.
