UPSC Prelims 2024 · Question 86 of 97

UPSC Prelims 2024 question on Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Consider the following materials:

1. Agricultural residues
2. Corn grain
3. Wastewater treatment sludge
4. Wood mill waste

Which of the above can be used as feedstock for producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel?

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 3 and 4 only
  3. 1, 2, 3 and 4
  4. 1, 3 and 4 only
Show answer

Answer: C. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Verdict

All four listed materials – agricultural residues, corn grain, wastewater treatment sludge, and wood mill waste – can be used as feedstock for SAF → Option (c).

Analysis

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is a liquid fuel currently used in commercial aviation which reduces CO2 emissions by up to 80%. It can be produced from a number of sources (feedstock) including waste oil and fats, green and municipal waste and non-food crops.

An estimated 1 billion dry tons of biomass can be collected sustainably each year in the United States, enough to produce 50–60 billion gallons of low-carbon biofuels. These resources include:
- Corn grain
- Oil seeds
- Algae
- Other fats, oils, and greases
- Agricultural residues
- Forestry residues
- Wood mill waste
- Municipal solid waste streams
- Wet wastes (manures, wastewater treatment sludge)
- Dedicated energy crops

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