Indian Oil’s Revolutionary Move: Panipat Refinery to Convert Used Cooking Oil into Aviation Fuel

Discover how Indian Oil’s Panipat refinery will soon convert used cooking oil into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), reducing carbon emissions in aviation and supporting India’s environmental goals. Learn more about the innovative process and its impact.

By 2025, Indian Oil’s Panipat Refinery will be able to make aviation fuel from used cooking oil.

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is about to change the aviation sector forever by making sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from spent cooking oil at its Panipat refinery. This is a big step in cutting down on carbon emissions from the aviation industry and helping India reach its environmental goals. The refinery will make 35,000 tonnes of SAF every year by the end of 2025. This initiative will help reduce waste and make air travel more environmentally friendly.

What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)?

Sustainable Aviation Fuel is a new type of biofuel that comes from renewable sources, including leftover cooking oil, waste fats, and agricultural waste. SAF is a cleaner option than regular jet fuel. It cuts greenhouse gas emissions by a lot and makes air travel better for the environment.

Indian Oil’s Panipat refinery will use waste cooking oil from big hotels, restaurants, and food chains as its main raw material to make SAF. This not only solves problems with waste management, but it also offers a long-term way to cut down on the aviation industry’s reliance on fossil fuels.

How does Indian Oil plan to turn cooking oil into jet fuel?

There are a number of complicated chemical changes that happen during the process. The wasted cooking oil will go through a refining process that turns it into a high-quality aviation-grade fuel that aircraft engines can use. The Panipat refinery is getting an upgrade to handle this process. It will include cutting-edge facilities developed just for making SAF.

• Feedstock Sourcing: Used cooking oil will come from a variety of places in the food sector, such as big chains like Haldiram’s and other eateries.
• Production: Hydroprocessing is a procedure that cleans up the waste oil and turns it into a refined, renewable fuel.
• Certification: The ISCC CORSIA accreditation has already been given to Indian Oil’s Panipat refinery. This means that the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced by the refinery meets worldwide criteria for sustainability.

India’s Promise to Be Sustainable

This plan fits with India’s lofty environmental goals. By 2027, the country wants to mix 1% SAF into jet fuel for foreign flights. Indian Oil’s SAF production is also in line with India’s larger goal of promoting renewable energy sources and making the aviation industry less harmful to the environment.

The technology solves two big problems: getting rid of garbage and harming the environment. It does this by using leftover cooking oil as a feedstock. The process of converting used cooking oil into useful aviation fuel not only benefits the environment but also revitalizes resources that would otherwise face disposal.

The Environmental Impact of SAF

Less carbon emissions: SAF can cut carbon emissions by up to 80% compared to regular jet fuel. This is why it is so important for the aviation industry to work on decarbonization.

• Waste Reduction: Turning used cooking oil into fuel helps the environment and supports the idea of a circular economy.
• Energy Security: By making SAF in India, the country makes its energy security stronger because it doesn’t have to rely on imported fossil fuels as much.

Indian Oil’s Vision for the Future

Indian Oil Corporation dedicates itself to discovering sustainable energy solutions. The company’s mission is to help India become carbon neutral by leading the way to green fuels. IOC is helping the aviation industry by developing new SAF production methods and teaching other industries to find greener fuels.

Challenges and Opportunities

This project is a start toward making things more sustainable; however, scaling up SAF manufacturing comes with a number of problems, such as

• Supply of Raw Materials: Making sure that there is always enough cooking oil used for large-scale production.
• Technology and Infrastructure: The technology needed to make SAF is still being developed. To reach the long-term aim of mass production, it is important to keep putting money into research and development.

However, this initiative also brings immense opportunities:

• Job Creation: As the demand for SAF increases, the biofuel-producing industry will create new jobs.
• India’s entry into the SAF production field makes it a global leader in making green aviation fuel, which could lead to export opportunities.

In conclusion

Indian Oil’s decision to make sustainable aviation fuel from spent cooking oil at the Panipat refinery is a first step toward locating cleaner energy sources. Indian Oil is doing a lot to help the environment and lower the aviation sector’s carbon emissions by turning trash into useful fuel. As this project moves forward, it will be crucial for changing India’s aviation industry and setting an example for the rest of the globe.

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