India Green Aviation
Although India’s aviation sector contributes to less than 1% of India’s total emissions, decarbonizing the sector is essential for India to remain on track to achieve its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). NDC is a non-binding national plan highlighting climate change mitigation, including climate-related targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions. India’s NDC targets include reducing emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% by 2030 from the 2005 level and achieve 50% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030.
India is predicted to be the world’s third-largest aviation market by 2024 and the third-largest air passenger market by 2030. As a result, India will need to look for sustainable ways to power its growing fleet of civil aircraft. India’s current requirement for Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) is approximately 25mn tons per day. The supply line and the stock of imported crude and refined products from international energy suppliers remain highly limited. Adoption of Green Aviation is imperative for the future growth and sustainability of India’s aviation sector.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), India will experience the largest increase in energy demand through 2040 of any country in the world. One way India can sustainably meet this demand is by using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). SAFs are produced from sustainable feedstocks derived from several types of waste by-products of agriculture or using power-to-liquid hydrogen technology. In 2019, The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) released a white paper on the National Green Aviation policy, urging industry stakeholders to explore the possibilities of using biofuels, such as SAFs, and other alternative fuels with lower emissions for ground vehicle applications.
There are several initiatives that have been undertaken by Government of India (GOI) to promote green aviation in the public sector. These include setting up a green airport at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi and establishing a National Air Navigation Services Company to promote the efficient use of airspace. The private sector has also taken note, with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IndianOil), India’s leading energy company, signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with LanzaJet, a leading sustainable fuels producer and technology company to explore the development of SAF production in India.
The GOI has also launched a Greenfield Airport Policy to promote the development of energy efficient airports. India’s Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) piloted SAF use across the Indian Air Force’s AN-32 fleet - a milestone towards expanded use throughout India. Alongside India’s ongoing transition to SAFs, India has also recently introduced Taxi Bots, semi-robotic, pilot-controlled towing tractors, in airports. The vehicle tows the aircraft close to the take off point reducing the time engines are required to run. This process helps to save fuel and reduces wear and tear of aircraft engines.
Finally, MoCA is set to begin work to create a policy ecosystem for Electric Vertical Take Off and Landing (EvTOL) systems. With major partnerships being announced between U.S. and Indian companies such as Eve Air Mobility and Blade India to improve the future of air mobility across the Indian subcontinent over the next five years, U.S. suppliers are well positioned to enter this segment of Indian market.
The experienced U.S. Commercial Service team in India can help guide your market entry or expansion strategies on the Indian subcontinent. For further information regarding this sector, please contact the Aerospace and Defense team at the U.S. Commercial Service in India.