India’s toxic crop waste could fuel global airlines, study finds

Every year, farmers in India burn millions of tonnes of stalks, husks and other plant matter left after a harvest that has long contributed to winter smog in South Asia.But the agricultural waste – also known as crop residue – could become a source to make Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for airlines around the world, according to a new study.SAF is a green alternative to conventional jet fuel derived from a blend of aviation turbine fuel and raw materials for use in aircraft.By combining biomass from crop residue with green hydrogen, India could produce SAF at costs of up to 40 per cent lower than global benchmarks, according to a new report by UC Berkeley’s India Energy & Climate Centre and Energy Innovation.“This is a rare opportunity to turn a domestic air-pollution challenge into a strategic clean-fuel export industry,” said Amol Phadke, faculty director of the India Energy & Climate Centre at UC Berkeley and one of the report’s co-authors.The report argues that India has three advantages if it aims to become a major SAF supplier: some of the world’s cheapest solar power, a national push to develop green hydrogen and a vast supply of crop residue.