By Aritra Banerjee
Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport has been credited with pioneering many eco-friendly initiatives in an industry teeming with environmental concerns. IA&D Correspondent Aritra Banerjee spoke to Delhi International Airport Limited’s Chief Executive Officer, Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, on current practices in place, his vision for green airports, and how to keep the industry environmentally sustainable while remaining commercially viable.
Q. Could you tell our readers about some of DIAL’s initiatives to improve the air quality at the airport and its surroundings?
Ans: Air quality is a key concern for the entire Delhi NCR region as most of the time the air quality remains poor. But at Delhi Airport, we don’t leave any stone unturned to improve air quality. We have planted a mix of foliage and air purifying trees to provide natural purification of the air at the airport. Close to 40,000 ‘air purifying plants’ are being used to clean the air indoors, and nearly 3.9 million square feet of the area within the IGI premises is covered with plants and shrubs.
We have also taken various measures to further improve air quality in the vicinity of Delhi airport. Some of the key initiatives include the installation of Bridge Mounted Equipment (BME), introduction of TaxiBots, Fuel Hydrant System (FHS), adoption of CNG and electric vehicle operations, Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM), and dust mitigation measures among others.
DIAL has installed BME in the aerobridges of Terminal 3. The BME such as Fixed Electrical Ground Power Unit (FEGPU) and Pre-Conditioned Air (PCA) supply reduce emissions from the aircraft’s Auxiliary Power Unit (APU).
We have also adopted TaxiBots at Delhi Airport, which reduces aircraft’s fuel consumption during taxis and correspondingly reduces emissions. Furthermore, the fuel hydrant network system is used for the uplift of fuel into aircraft to reduce fuel spillage and eliminate vehicular emissions from the movement of oil tankers. In terms of fuel, DIAL and IGIA stakeholders have also adopted CNG vehicle operation at IGI airport. We have set up a CNG fuelling station within the airside premises as well.
We have also adopted electric bus services for passenger movement from Terminal 3 to Passenger Transport Centre (PTC) located near Centaur Hotel. DIAL is in the process of replacing its vehicle fleets with EVs and has also developed multimodal connectivity in Delhi Airport. As of now, all the three terminals of Delhi Airport are connected to Delhi Metro routes via metro stations in Terminal 1, Terminal 3 and Aero city.
Another aspect is the A-CDM. This helps DIAL to improve operational efficiency and reduce aircraft emissions through better planning and utilisation of resources during operation. Moreover, at our construction site, we have taken necessary dust control measures, covering soils, and frequent sweeping of roads and use of water sprinkling, rain and fog guns help in dust mitigation. Further, all our sites are well barricaded which also helps in controlling dust.
All these measures help us in reducing emissions from our operation and thus help improve air quality significantly.
Q. How does DIAL aim to achieve a “net-zero carbon emission airport” by 2030?
Ans: We have developed a robust action plan with milestones and timelines. Our target is to become a net-zero carbon emission airport by 2030. Our objective is to reduce the emissions within DIAL’s control (scope 1 & 2) to close to zero.
For reducing scope 2 emissions, we have developed onsite solar energy of 7.84 MW capacity. We also procure green energy through an open access mechanism and we have also signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with hydropower producers. This will ensure the electricity requirements of the entire airport will be met from green sources. For reducing our scope 1 emission, we are replacing our current vehicle fleet with electric vehicles. These vehicles will be charged with the green energy available at the airport.
Apart from these, our other focus areas are- energy efficiency and conservation, green infrastructure, operational efficiency measures, airline programs, green transportation, development of carbon sink and continuing Airport Carbon Accreditation program, etc.
Q. Pollution is a significant issue plaguing the aviation industry; how does DIAL strive to maintain, regulate and reduce the environmental deterioration, which is an inadvertent by-product of commercial operations?
Ans: Ensuring sustainable development through environment protection is one of our key focus areas. We have mapped all our activities and taken adequate measures to eliminate or reduce environmental impacts by having an Environment Management System, which is certified under ISO 14001:2015.
We have adopted air emission reduction initiatives, and greenhouse gas reduction measures as elaborated earlier. Apart from these, we have water management initiatives such as a 16.6 MLD zero liquid discharge sewage treatment plant, rainwater harvesting structures, storage tanks, and water-efficient fixtures.
All the waste generated is managed as per government regulation. We have also adopted a ‘single-use plastic-free airport’ initiative and got certified by a third-party agency.
We also work very closely with all our stakeholders to improve their environmental performances as well. Apart from these, we have rolled out various employee engagement initiatives wherein employees can participate and contribute towards environmental well-being. Our objective is to take measures to go beyond compliance requirements, adopt a collaborative approach along with our stakeholders and become a sustainable aviation hub.
Q. Where does DIAL stand under the ‘Airport Carbon Accreditation Programme’ today?
Ans: Currently, we are at Level 4+ (transition), which is the highest level of accreditation under ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation Program. We are the first airport in the Asia-Pacific region to achieve this level.
Q. DIAL has earned the distinction of being the world’s first airport to use Taxibot, this was on an A-320 aircraft operated by Air India with passengers on board. Would you be able to explain to our readers what ‘Taxibot’ is and what its significance is for DIAL in its commitment to green airports?
Ans: TaxiBot is a semi-automatic robotic device used for aircraft taxiing. TaxiBot is the only operational alternative taxiing system that has been certified till now in the industry. Delhi Airport is the first airport globally to adopt commercial operation of TaxiBot in 2019.
In a conventional aircraft taxi process, an aircraft is tugged by a ground vehicle to the Tug Disconnection Point (TDP). From the TDP, the aircraft starts its main engine and continues its taxiing journey while burning precious ATF and emitting ground noise and ground carbon emissions before taking off from the runway. Use of TaxiBots eliminates the requirements of TDP and also eliminates the requirements of switching on the main engine during the taxiing process.
Use of TaxiBot ensures significant reduction in fuel consumption during aircraft taxiing. Currently the TaxiBots in Delhi Airport are compatible with Airbus A320 Family and Boeing B737 Family of aircraft. With the existing set up at Delhi Airport, the use of TaxiBot leads to reduction of approximately 532 kg CO2 per aircraft, per taxiing event.
Q. Is there anything else you would like to add or say about the growth story of the Indian airport industry and DIAL’s commitment and role in it?
Ans: The aviation sector in India was one of the fastest-growing sectors before the pandemic. The sector is again picking up steadily now. Delhi being the capital airport of India, the growth of Delhi Airport will supplement the growth of the aviation sector in India. In March 2022, Delhi Airport became the second busiest airport in the world. This further demonstrates the growth potential the airport has.
In order to cater to the increasing passenger demand, DIAL has also taken up airport expansion projects under which, a new runway, an elevated cross taxiway, modification of Terminal 1 and apron area, cargo facilities etc. have been taken up. Once completed these projects will enable DIAL to offer enhanced passenger experience with all safety, security and sustainability measures.
The government is also taking proactive measures to ensure the growth of the sector by increasing air connectivity throughout the country. As the aviation sector is called an economic multiplier, the growth of this sector will have a far-reaching positive impact in overall growth and development of India.
Aritra Banerjee can be reached by email: aritra.banerjee@iadb.in, Twitter: @Aritrabanned