Praj Industries has successfully demonstrated its Ethanol-to-Jet (EtJ) process using Axens Jetanol™ technology at its Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) demonstration plant in Pune. This significant milestone, announced at Wings India 2026, validates bio-ethanol as a feedstock for SAF, complementing its earlier demonstration with bio-isobutanol. The integrated SAF demo plant, previously inaugurated by Union Minister Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, has now proven technological readiness for both Alcohol-to-Jet (AtJ) pathways. Axens has licensed its Jetanol™ technology to Praj, covering dehydration, oligomerization, and hydrogenation steps, along with catalysts and technical support. Praj is positioned as the first company globally to offer a fully integrated, end-to-end technology and engineering solution for the AtJ pathway, converting ethanol into drop-in SAF compliant with ASTM D7566. This development is crucial for accelerating the global transition to low-carbon aviation. Dr. Pramod Chaudhari, Founder Chairman of Praj Industries, emphasized the company's commitment to science-led, scalable solutions for decarbonizing aviation. QuenƟn Debuisschert, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Axens, highlighted the milestone's importance for the SAF value chain and the acceleration of ETJ solutions. The announcement also referenced the growing global demand for SAF, with IATA's Net Zero Roadmaps projecting a demand of over 500 million tonnes. India's potential for SAF production is significant, with assessments indicating a substantial opportunity through the AtJ pathway, potentially producing 16-19 billion litres by 2040, positioning India as a competitive global SAF export hub.
