The Digest’s 2024 Multi-Slide Guide to Praj Industries and Leveraging Bioeconomy for Sustainable Future

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The eminent danger of climate change, Praj’s Expertise and Readiness for Sustainable Future, opportunities with the Multi-feed and Multi-product Biorefinery Complex, and the Collective Efforts Toward Sustainable Future represented by the new Global Biofuels Alliance. These are just a couple of the themes in this wide-ranging presentation by Dr. Ravindra Utgikar, Vice President – Corporate Strategy at Praj Industries, given at ABLC NEXT 2023. READ MORE WATCH recorded presentation

Excerpt from Praj: Hon. Union Minister Shri. Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurated Praj’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) demonstration facility at its R&D Center in Pune on Saturday, 20th January 2024. Praj has developed a proprietary technology to process agricultural feedstocks for the production of SAF that can be blended with Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF).

The hard to abate Aviation Industry is one of the largest consumers of fossil fuels and also an emitter of greenhouse gases (GHG). According to the India Brand Equity Foundation 2023 report, the government has set a target to operationalize 1000 UDAN routes and to revive 100 airports by 2024. Thus, India is the third largest and fastest-growing civil aviation market in the World. The low carbon SAF has a significant role in helping India achieve its net zero goal targets by 2070.

During the inauguration ceremony, Shri. Hardeep Singh Puri, Hon. Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing & Urban Affairs said, “This facility demonstrating indigenously developed technology for production of SAF is a testament to India’s rising prowess in the Global Bioeconomy. Utilization of Captive Agri-Resources for the production of Biofuels such as SAF is aligned with the government’s goals towards Atma Nirbhar Bharat and will go a long way in helping India achieve its energy self-reliance by 2047. I compliment the visionary leadership of Dr. Pramod Chaudhari and Team Praj for this exciting development.”

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Pramod Chaudhari, Executive Chairman, Praj Industries said, “Inauguration of SAF demonstration facility is yet another milestone in Praj’s pursuit of energy transition through Bioeconomy. Recently, we collaborated with IOCL and AirAsia India to successfully fly India’s first commercial passenger flight with 1% SAF produced at our bench scale setup that was blended with ATF. We truly believe in India’s potential to be a hub for supplying SAF for the Global Aviation Industry and we stand committed to helping build SAF production capacities. We thank Hon. Minister Shri. Hardeep Singh Puri ji for his continued guidance and encouragement.”

It may be noted that around 3% of all GHG emissions worldwide are currently attributable to aviation. Unless controlled, otherwise the emissions may zoom to as much as 22% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has pledged to achieve net-zero emissions from the aviation sector by 2050.

Harnessing Sustainable Aviation Fuels is regarded as the most promising pathway for helping achieve this target.

Praj, India's most accomplished industrial biotech company, is driven by innovation, integration, and delivery capabilities. Over the past four decades, Praj has focused on the environment, energy, and agri‐process industry, with 1000 ++ customer references spanning 100+ countries across all five continents. Bio‐MobilityTM and Bio‐PrismTM are the mainstays of Praj's contribution to the global Bioeconomy. The Bio‐MobilityTM platform offers technology solutions globally to produce renewable transportation fuel, thus ensuring sustainable decarbonization through a circular bioeconomy. The company's Bio‐PrismTM portfolio comprises technologies to produce renewable chemicals and materials, promising sustainability while reimagining nature. Praj Matrix, the state‐of‐the‐art R&D facility, forms the backbone for the company's endeavours towards a clean energy‐based Bioeconomy. Praj's diverse portfolio comprises Bio‐energy solutions, Critical process equipment & skids, Breweries, Zero liquid discharge systems, and High purity water systems. Led by an accomplished and caring leadership, Praj is a socially responsible corporate citizen. Praj is listed on the Bombay and National Stock Exchanges of India. READ MORE