Sustainable fuel technology provider Velocys has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with India-based Varhad Capital Pvt Ltd to develop a new generation of biomass-to-Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) facilities. The collaboration seeks to address India’s soaring aviation demand and abundant agricultural waste by establishing a scalable “hub-and-spoke” production model.
The partnership integrates Varhad’s operational gasification platform, which currently produces syngas and biochar from crop residues, with Velocys’ proprietary Fischer-Tropsch (FT) technology. This combination provides an efficient, direct pathway to convert indigenous agricultural leftovers into high-quality jet fuel. The initiative aims to produce “Make-In-India” SAF that is cost-competitive with conventional fuels while delivering superior lifecycle carbon performance.
“With an operating gasification platform already in place, we are moving quickly. Working with Velocys allows us to translate that capability into fuel production through a proven technology that is aligned with favourable market economics,” said Prasad Dahapute, Founder and Managing Director of Varhad.
The move comes at a critical time as India focuses on domestic production and decarbonisation within the transport sector. By leveraging proven technology in a high-growth market, the partners intend to streamline the journey from field to flight.
“This collaboration is about combining two commercially proven technologies in a market where we can streamline biomass-to-fuels production with a technically robust, commercially competitive offering,” said Sachin Joshi, Chief Commercial Officer at Velocys.
