IndiGo to explore potential to use sustainable aviation fuel in aircraft, signs pact

IndiGo on Friday issued a statement, in which it informed that it is exploring potential of using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in aircraft. IndiGo airlines also informed that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with an international SAF provider. However, carrier has not yet revealed name of SAF provider. It is important to mention here that commercial aviation is responsible for about 2-3 per cent of global carbon emissions. 

IndiGo Green Report: Airlines to use SAF

In a report titled 'IndiGo Green' released on Friday, airlines informed that it knows that SAF is not in mass production currently. However, highlighting importance of sustainable aviation fuel, IndiGo said that it is exploring potential of using it and is in talks with its manufacturers globally. 

report re, " utilisation of SAF commercially is still a few years away but as a leer in Indian aviation, we have alrey embarked on this journey by signing our first MoU with an international SAF provider."

IndiGo airlines in its release informed that it is currently taking up following steps to reduce its aviation turbine fuel (ATF) consumption to decreased carbon footprint-fleet modernisation, implementing weight reduction measures on board, optimising flight routes, improving flight operations and following fuel-efficient best practices. It also said that airlines believe that use of all above practices combined toger cannot match impact which can be created by sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). 

Informing that it has saved 4.67 lakh tonnes of aviation turbine fuel between 2015-16 to 2020-21, carrier said that now it aims to reduce its carbon dioxide (CO2) emission by 18 per cent per available seat kilometre (ASK) in 2022-23 as compared to 2015-16. ASK measures passenger-carrying capacity of airline and it is calculated by multiplying total number of seats in flights to total number of kilometres flown by m.

CO2 efficiency of airline is measured using ASK intensity. ASK intensity is CO2/1,000 ASKs. One MT CO2 is equal to 316 kg of fuel. According to International Air Transport Association (IATA), it is defined as 'any fuel that has potential to generate lower carbon emissions than conventional kerosene on a life cycle basis.

Meanwhile, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which is a United Nations specialised agency, in some cases uses 'alternative fuels' as its terminology, and it is defined as 'any fuel that has potential to generate lower carbon emissions than conventional kerosene on a life cycle basis. ICAO also uses term 'sustainable aviation fuel'. 

(Image: PTI)