Bengaluru: To replace 10% of the present consumption of fuel in both Indian Air Force and commercial aviation sector, the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun has prepared a bio-fuel for the aviation sector.
The government aims to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels by 10% from the current levels by 2022 and the critical challenge for the CSIR was to maintain cost competitiveness and supply reliability.
CSIR with Spice Jet conducted a Biofuel Flight on August 27, 2018 and during the Republic Day Parade, the IAF flew a biofuel-powered An-32.
“We convert vegetable oil to bio-fuel. It can be used in fighter jets as well. In fact, the IAF has shown a keen interest in the project. The aim is to reduce the import of fuel," said Mr Salim Akhtar Farooqui, a scientist at CSIR. The cost of the bio-fuel is Rs 55-60 a litre, he said.
Bio-fuel for jets is made from jatropha seeds obtained from the Chhattisgarh Biofuel Development Authority and processed at CSIR.
The IAF, DRDO and Directorate General Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA) and CSIR have come together for the project.
The technical approval for the 50% biofuel / kerosene mix for aviation fuel in 2011 has resulted in noticeable rapid increase in interest and investment on bio jet fuels.
