Delhi International Airport, also known as the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI Airport), had been actively pursuing several sustainability measures to reduce its environmental impact and promote eco-friendly operations. Delhi Airport believes in sustainability excellence and has taken many sustainability initiatives at the Delhi Airport.
The sustainability initiatives taken at the airport are highlighted below:
Green Building: Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has adopted green building requirements in the airport terminal buildings (T3) and has achieved LEED Gold certification for New Construction in 2011 from United States Green Building Council (USGBC) and from IGBC, Platinum level certification was achieved in 2019 as for its operation and management of Terminals 3. In 2019, Terminal 3 had also received “Platinum Level” in Performance Excellence in Electricity Renewal (PEER) certification system from the USGBC.
Currently DIAL is working on Terminal 1 expansion, and it is also being developed as per green building new construction requirements and has already received LEED Platinum Per-certification.
Renewable Energy Use: DIAL has adopted Renewable Energy Use Program at IGIA as a part of Net Zero Emission Plan by 2030. Currently it uses 100% renewable energy for its operation. DIAL to reduce its electricity related emission to Zero (by eliminating carbon emission of about 200000 tCO2/year).
Single Use Plastic Elimination: DIAL has also implemented the “Single-Use Plastic Free Airport” (SUPFA) initiative in 2019 & CII ITC CESD certified DIAL as a “Single-Use Plastic Free Airport” in February 2020.
Green Transportation Program at Airport: DIAL’s has initiated phasing out Petrol & Diesel vehicles by inducting 64 EVs, with this DIAL will achieved more than 90% of its vehicle operations in to electric. DIAL is also working IGIA stakeholders to for phasing out the Petrol & Diesel vehicles.
Net Zero Emission Airport by 2030: DIAL committed to become Net Zero Emission Airport by 2030 and working on various emission reduction initiatives with stakeholders. Key initiatives taken up at IGIA are energy conservation and efficiency improvement, renewable energy use, green building development, green transportation programs, operational excellence, stakeholder engagement and partnership and adopting to emission management system and accreditation programs.
Taxibot: Use of Taxibot is one of the emission mitigation initiative at IGIA. DIAL has adopted TaxiBots at Delhi Airport in 2019 for commercial operations. It is the first Airport in world to take up this initiative. It reduces aircraft’s fuel consumption during taxi 200-240 L ATF/taxing/aircraft) and correspondingly reduces Aircraft carbon emission from 630- 750 kg of CO2/flight (taxi out).
Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM): DIAL uses the Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM) system. A tool, that improves air traffic flow and capacity management at airports by reducing delays, improving the predictability of events together with stakeholders participations. It also helps in reducing fuel consumption and emission by aircrafts.
Bridge Mounted Equipment (BME): DIAL has also installed Bridge Mounted Equipment (BME) in the 78 aerobridges of Terminal 3. The bridge-mounted equipment consists of a fixed electrical ground power unit (FEGPU) and Pre-Conditioned Air (PCA) to reduce emissions from aircraft’s Auxiliary Power Unit (APU). As a part of T1 new development additional 22 BME are being installed.
Water Management: DIAL has a very high focus on sustainable water management. As of today, DIAL has around > 350 rainwater harvesting systems (RWHS) installed, additional more than 300 structures are being constructed at the Airport. Under the current airport expansion project, DIAL has developed rainwater storage facilities of capacity 8.8 ML. With the RWHS in place, Delhi Airport is working achieving water positive status at IGIA. The 16.6 MLD zero liquid discharge sewage treatment plant of DIAL ensures the entire sewage water is treated and reused in applications such as horticulture, toilet flushing and HVAC make up water.
Waste Management: DIAL has adopted 4R (Reduce, reuse, recycle and recover) circular economy approach for effective waste management at IGIA focusing waste to wealth concept. All waste generated at the Airport is managed as per the government guidelines and regulations. The segregated wastes such as plastic, paper and cans etc. are sent to recycling agencies. DIAL has set up its own Solid Waste Management Centre at IGIA, with Material Recovery Facility and biogas plants.
Noise Management: DIAL has adopted automatic noise management system to monitor aircraft noise and adopted many mitigation measures at IGIA. DIAL is also working with regulators and institutions for effective management of aircraft noise at the airport.
Multimode Connectivity: DIAL has adopted multimodal connectivity at IGIA to reduce its environmental footprint. It is connected by efficient road and metro rail connectivity.
Airport Carbon Accreditation: In 2016 Delhi Airport became the first airport in the Asia Pacific region to achieve ACI “Level 3+” and in 2020 the accreditation status upgraded to “Level 4+” as the first Airport in Asia Pacific and only the second Airport globally. This was achieved not just by meeting neutrality requirements but by adopting long term emission reduction targets also in line with IPCC 1.5-degree scenario.
Energy Management System: DIAL is the First airport in the world to have adopted Energy Management System and get certified for ISO 50001:2018. This System improves the energy efficiency, conservation and overall energy performance of the organization by making better use of the energy-intensive assets. Through these concerted efforts, DIAL has reduced both fuel and electricity consumption over the years.
Environment Management System: DIAL has adopted ISO 14001 & 14064 for Environment and Emission Management; it is being certified by the external agency. ISO systems helps in improving environmental and sustainability performance of the airports.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): DIAL has adopted many SDGs in the business goals and focusing overall sustainable development at the IGIA. Airports addresses about 15 UN SDGs out of 17 UN SGDs.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): SAF is the future opportunity for aviation to address the carbon emission reduction, mainly for airlines. DIAL has taken up a study on SAF with MoCA, DGCA and other knowledge partners to assess and address the airport future infrastructural needs.
With inputs from Delhi International Airport Limited
