• Honeywell’s Ethanol-to-Jet technology will support a planned 80,000 tons per annum SAF facility, positioning India’s aviation sector for lower lifecycle emissions.
• The project aligns with India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat policy, linking domestic bioethanol supply chains with aviation decarbonization goals.
• Ethanol-based SAF pathways could reshape financing and agricultural value chains by connecting farmers directly to low-carbon fuel markets

India Moves To Scale Domestic SAF Production

Honeywell and TruAlt Bioenergy Limited have signed an agreement to deploy Honeywell UOP’s Ethanol-to-Jet technology for a new sustainable aviation fuel facility targeting 80,000 tons per annum of production. The project is expected to become one of India’s first grassroots plants dedicated solely to SAF using ethanol as its primary feedstock.

The move reflects accelerating policy pressure to decarbonize aviation while reducing reliance on imported energy sources. India’s aviation market is expanding rapidly, and domestic policymakers have increasingly emphasized biofuels as a pathway to balance growth with climate commitments. By leveraging existing ethanol infrastructure, the initiative aims to shorten development timelines while limiting capital intensity compared to conventional refining models.

Honeywell’s Ethanol-to-Jet process converts renewable ethanol into SAF and renewable diesel, enabling cross-sector emissions reductions across both aviation and road transport. The technology’s compatibility with existing ethanol assets offers an incremental approach to scaling sustainable fuels without fully rebuilding refining systems.

Policy Alignment And Agricultural Economics

The agreement also reflects alignment with the Indian government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat strategy, which promotes domestic manufacturing and energy independence. For policymakers, ethanol-based SAF provides an opportunity to integrate rural agriculture into global decarbonization markets.

“Our proven Ethanol-to-Jet technology provides a cost-efficient pathway for SAF production and will help TruAlt Bioenergy advance its net-zero ambitions while creating value across the agricultural and energy ecosystems,” said Ranjit Kulkarni, VP & GM – Honeywell Process Technology, India. “This agreement marks another milestone in Honeywell’s journey to help India build self-reliance in sustainable fuel production.”

Executives point to the project’s potential to strengthen farm income by increasing demand for bioethanol feedstocks. As global aviation buyers seek scalable SAF supply, ethanol-rich regions such as India may emerge as strategic suppliers, provided production economics remain competitive.

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Corporate Strategy And Global SAF Competition

TruAlt Bioenergy sees the partnership as a stepping stone toward positioning India within the global SAF market. While North America and Europe currently dominate SAF investment flows, emerging markets with strong agricultural bases are attracting growing interest from airlines and fuel traders seeking diversified supply chains.

Vijay Nirani, Managing Director of TruAlt Bioenergy Limited, said, “Our agreement with Honeywell is a defining step in TruAlt’s journey to help build India’s sustainable aviation fuel ecosystem. By leveraging Honeywell technology, we aim to create a scalable, ethanol-based SAF pathway that connects India’s farmers directly to the global aviation decarbonization agenda. Through this project, we are strengthening our conviction that India’s energy transition must be rooted in domestic feedstocks, strong industrial capability and inclusive economic value creation without external dependence. Additionally, it leverages India’s unique geographic and demographic advantages to progressively position the country as a major global hub for sustainable aviation fuel production.”

Honeywell’s broader renewable fuels portfolio, including modular solutions designed for rapid deployment, reflects a growing industry push to reduce project risk and accelerate commercialization timelines. Modular installations can shorten construction cycles and limit exposure to cost overruns, a key consideration for investors evaluating emerging SAF pathways.

What Executives And Investors Should Watch

For corporate leaders and financiers, the partnership highlights three evolving dynamics in the sustainable fuels landscape. First, ethanol-based SAF is gaining traction as a potentially cost-competitive pathway compared with traditional feedstocks such as used cooking oil or municipal waste. Second, domestic industrial policy is shaping project pipelines as governments seek to localize supply chains. Third, aviation decarbonization is driving closer collaboration between agriculture, refining technology providers and airline customers.

The long-term impact will depend on policy stability, lifecycle emissions standards and offtake agreements from airlines seeking compliance with global climate frameworks. As regulators across Asia refine SAF mandates and incentives, projects like the Honeywell-TruAlt collaboration could influence regional investment flows and reshape expectations around feedstock diversification.

Beyond India, the deal reflects a broader shift in the global energy transition: emerging economies are moving from technology adopters to potential exporters of low-carbon fuels. If successful, ethanol-based SAF production at scale could position India as a competitive player in a market projected to grow rapidly as aviation aligns with net-zero targets.

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