Today, 22nd of April, is Earth Day 2025. The occasion isn’t just symbolic; it’s here to encourage real action. Every year has a theme and this time, it’s ‘our power, our planet’ which sets the challenge of generating three times as much renewable energy by 2030.
In this article, we’ll look at some sustainability initiatives in MRO and across the broader aviation industry. We’ll also look at how some companies are generating renewable energy on-site, in line with this year’s theme.
Aviation’s Environmental Impact
According to IATA, air transport generates around 3.0% of the world’s CO₂ emissions, 80% of which occur on flights of over 1,500 km. Rising passenger and freight demand has caused emissions to quadruple since the 1960s. Non-CO2 effects such as NOx and contrails (condensation trails) account for 50% of aviation’s climate effects.
Beyond in-flight emissions, the industry has to consider the impact throughout an aircraft’s lifecycle, from its manufacture to decommission. According to EASA, more than 30% of Europe’s fleet is due to retire within the next 10 years. Likewise, ICAO states that worldwide, 17,000 commercial aircraft will be retired by 2030, according to some studies. This adds to the importance of finding sustainable ways to retire aircraft without huge volumes of material ending up in landfill.
What about maintenance? If not managed properly, operations can produce significant emissions and waste. On the other hand, MRO is also a key part of the solution: well-maintained aircraft burn fuel more efficiently and have longer service lives, delaying the need for new aircraft production. Analyses also show that improvements in maintenance and ground handling could cut the associated emissions intensity by about 50% by 2050.
Before looking more at sustainability in MRO specifically, let’s return to the theme of Earth Day 2025 – generating more renewable energy.
How Are Aviation Companies Increasing Renewable Energy Generation?
On-site generation of renewable energy is nothing new for airports. There are many examples spanning decades, such as the case of San Diego International Airport which, from 2014-2017, installed solar panels with a capacity of 5.5 megawatts on rooftops and in car parks. The installation generates around 9.3 kWh hours per year, accounting for 20% of the facility’s energy needs.
Similarly, in 2021, Iberia commissioned the installation of solar panels on its 20,000 sq ft maintenance hangar at Madrid Airport, which would go on to generate 80 million kWh to supply not just the hangar, but offices and other workshop areas as well.
Let’s look at some more recent news.
55% of India’s Airports Now Powered by 100% Renewables
The Indian government recently confirmed that 55% of the country’s airports operating within the civil aviation sector are now powered by renewable energy – a combination of on-site and off-site generated.
Rome Fiumicino Airport Constructs Europe’s Largest Solar Farm
In January this year, the new solar farm was unveiled. It consists of 55,000 panels, extends 2.5 km and has a power of 22 MWp. This is set to rise to 60 MWp in the coming years; by then, the airport will be generating 50% of its energy demands on-site.
The solar farm is also set to be connected to Pioneer, an energy storage solution consisting of 786 second-life batteries to store the excess energy produced.
The energy will also be used to supply 4,600 EV charging points by 2026, 400 of which are already in operation.
Dallas Love Field Airport Converts Jet Exhaust Into Energy
In partnership with JetWind Power Corporation, DAL Airport has implemented the means to convert jet exhaust into clean electricity. After several years of testing, which ended in 2024, the solution has proven effective. How does it work?
It uses so-called Energy Capturing Pods (ECPs), each one containing five turbine generators. The pods are positioned in areas where aircraft are idling, and by runways; as they expel strong gusts of exhaust, the turbines rotate to produce electricity. Each pod produces 11 kW, which is used in the terminal to power passenger device-charging stations.
The technology has gained international interest and will likely be replicated elsewhere. The military aviation sector may also get good use from it, considering the thrust generated when fighter jets take off and land.
Adelaide Airport Achieves Carbon Neutrality
As of late-2024, Adelaide Airport is carbon neutral. The facility already relied mostly on renewable energy generated both on and off-site, but recently tripled the size of its solar farm which is situated on the terminal roofs. Containing 3,800 panels in total, its capacity has reached 3.5 MWp.
Other Sustainable MRO Practices
Energy generation aside, how else is aviation MRO becoming more sustainable?
Parts Recycling and Reuse
The industry now salvages usable parts and recycles waste materials. In fact, Airbus reports recycling up to 92% of each aircraft’s weight.
Parts that are in suitable condition are sometimes reused as spares for other aircraft – if they’re approved based on their records. If it’s not possible to use them for their original purposes, they can be used in other scenarios. Examples given by EASA include:
- Repurposing for use in other industries; for example, engine blades could be reused in land-based gas turbines.
- Training and education
- Use in furniture and office areas
- Collectible items for aviation enthusiasts
- For use on film sets
If the function can’t be maintained, the focus shifts to preserving the material and its properties, which can then be used for numerous purposes.
Energy-Efficient Facilities
Hangars and workshops are being designed or retrofitted to use less energy. Upgrades like LED lighting and efficient HVAC systems can significantly cut energy use, and new facilities are often built to green standards.
For example, Southwest Airlines expanded their hangar in Phoenix and earned LEED Silver certification for its sustainable design, which included recycled materials, high-reflectance roofing, and building products from manufacturers with verified environmental performance.
Preventive and Predictive Maintenance
Predictive maintenance helps airlines avoid unnecessary part replacements, ensuring they are carried out when necessary and not before. This delays the risk of them ending up in landfill if they’re unable to be reused and reduces the emissions associated with shipping new parts.
A preventive approach can also keep fuel burn to a minimum by ensuring engines are well-maintained. For example, Lufthansa Technik states that regular engine washes reduce fuel consumption and save around 80 tonnes of CO2 emissions per aircraft per year.
Sustainable Materials and Chemicals
Many companies are phasing out toxic chemicals in favour of greener, yet equally effective alternatives. In manufacturing, components are being made from composite materials to reduce weight, thus drug, thus fuel burn.
Using Cloud Based Aviation MRO Software
Cloud hosted MRO software can make maintenance operations more sustainable on several fronts. It makes condition-based and predictive maintenance possible, processing data from onboard sensors, aircraft health monitoring systems and other sources.
If it has dedicated inventory management features like OASES, it reduces overstocking and lowers the environmental impact of shipping unnecessary spares.
What’s more, better scheduling and real-time task management reduces idle aircraft time and makes hangar use more efficient.
In Closing
Earth Day is a time for concrete environmental action – as is every day of the year. It can be viewed as a milestone to gauge progress, set further action into motion and inspire continuous improvement.
On that note, the OASES team wishes you a productive Earth Day! May the skies remain safe, clean and sustainable for generations to come.
To learn more about our aviation maintenance software or request a demo, contact us today.