Race for net-zero emissions: Indian airlines take off on sustainable fuel

GREEN DEAL: Air India, AirAsia India, Vistara ink MoU with CSIR-IIP for sustainable aviation fuel

On Thursday, Air India, AirAsia India and Vistara signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Council Of Scientific and Industrial Research–Indian Institute Of Petroleum (CSIR-IIP) to collaborate on the research and development of sustainable aviation fuels.
 

The initiative of the Tata Group-owned airlines is in line with the efforts of global airlines to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and it comes days ahead of a crucial International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) meeting starting September 27.

Here’s a look into what sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) means.

What is SAF and how does it help in reducing carbon emissions?
 

SAF refers to waste-derived aviation fuel. It is produced from various sources such as used cooking oil, agricultural waste, fats or non-food crops.

SAF, also referred to as biofuel, can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 80 per cent, depending on the feedstock used and the production method.

SAF recycles carbon rather than releasing it in the atmosphere.
 

According to the International Air Transport Association, carbon dioxide absorbed by plants during the growth of biomass is roughly equivalent to the amount of carbon dioxide produced when the fuel is burned in a combustion engine, which is simply returned to the atmosphere.

What are the global experiences in the adoption of SAF?
 

The first test flight using 20 per cent biodiesel from coconut and babassu oil was operated by Virgin Atlantic between London and Amsterdam in February 2008. Certification of SAFs followed between 2009 and 2011, and the first commercial flights using the non-conventional fuel took place in 2011. Between 2011 and 2015, airlines operated over 2,500 commercial passenger flights with blends of up to 50 per cent SAF.
 

In March 2016, United became the first airline to introduce SAF into normal business operations for its daily flights from Los Angeles.
 

From January 2022, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines started adding 0.5 per cent SAF to all flights operating from Amsterdam. It also introduced a surcharge on tickets to finance the extra cost. On its website, KLM says that it cannot use 100 per cent SAF as it is not yet available on a large scale.

The price of SAF is also two to three times more than conventional jet fuel, it said.

What is the status of SAF adoption in India?
 

While Indian carriers lag behind their global peers in SAF use, efforts are being made to produce the biofuel locally.

In March, SpiceJet and GMR group partnered with Boeing and a clutch of French companies, respectively, to explore the development of SAF.
 

In February, India’s largest airline, IndiGo, used 10 per cent blend of SAF in the delivery flight of its Airbus A320 from France. The airline is also part of the World Economic Forum’s sustainability campaign.

The armed forces, too, are taking sustainability initiatives. The Indian Air Force plans to operate its AN-32 aircraft with 10 per cent SAF blend in the next six months.

A biofuel plant is also being set up by Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd and is expected to be complete by 2024.

What is India’s stance on the issue of net-zero emissions?
 

ICAO member states will meet in Montreal, Canada, next week to discuss the way forward on several issues including carbon emissions. At the ICAO’s high-level meeting in July, member states agreed to support the global net-zero emission target by 2050.

India, with the support of a few other countries, has pushed for a concession. According to a ICAO press announcement, the meeting recognised that “each state’s special circumstances and respective capabilities will inform the ability of each to contribute within its own time frame.” The issue will now be taken up at the general assembly meeting next week.

India has also moved a working paper for consideration at  the assembly meeting, which calls upon ICAO to provide developing countries assistance for climate change efforts. India is also opposed to the imposition of any non-tariff barriers on growth on international routes.