Digital Technology, a true accelerator for sustainable aviation

A carbon-neutral aeronautics industry in 2050? This is a challenge that will transform a sector that is vital to the economy and mobility. Given its international dimension, its impact on employment and continuity of trade and tourism, the sector must succeed in its transition to reduce its environmental and social impact.
The challenge is even more difficult, as in the same time, air transport will increase by an average of 4.2% per annum over the next 20 years (IATA outlook for Air transport). 

On October 7, 2022, 193 member states of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) adopted the "net zero CO2" objective for 2050. In the framework of the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), a roadmap to achieve this goal, has been co-constructed by leading players in the aviation industry.  
This roadmap relies on major transformation axes mobilizing the entire value chain: 

• Deployment of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), as coming from biomass   
• Development of new decarbonized aircraft as electric-, hybrid- and hydrogen-powered propulsion 
• Optimization of operations and infrastructure optimized trajectories, reduction of contrails or traffic decongestion.  
• The last lever, for remaining emissions, would be the instruments of market-based measures (MBMs), as CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation or the EU ETS (European Emissions Trading System). 

Moreover, in addition to climate change, the aeronautics sector must address other sustainability challenges, such as resources scarcity, the noise pollution or the impacts on biodiversity.  This is why the sector is building its new paradigm and turn the corner of transformation towards sustainable aviation for a better future. 

Responsible digital technology for sustainable aviation

As a tech leader committed to sustainable digital technology, Sopra Steria is contributing to this collective dynamic and is convinced that digital technology plays a key role in accelerating sustainable aviation. The deployment of Aeroline SUSTAIN program across the group demonstrates our commitment to this major transformation of the sector. 

Sustainable IT included in our digital solution development

Digital technology represents more than 5% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide and its share in global emissions is expected to increase by more than 45% by 2030 (source Ademe). The environmental footprint of digital technology must be taken into consideration in all projects. 

Sopra Steria places Responsible Digital at the heart of the organizational model and make it a lever for excellence in the future. We develop ‘sustainable by design’ technological solutions, quantitatively assess their impact and transform the existing situation into a continuous improvement process.   

We support our client in the evaluation of their own IT impact and create their actionable roadmap with an holistic approach and quantified objectives. We deploy the strategy to reduce their impacts according to their priorities, as optimization of the life cycle of terminals, transformation of infrastructures, data rationalization… 

Our assets on sustainable IT for industrialization 

• G4IT : Measurement and analysis of environmental impact of digital solution or information system, based on LCA methodology. 
• S4You : Evaluation of carbon footprint of a mission : Top Down and Bottom Up approach 
• Cloud Scanner : Analysis of environmental impact of your AWS Instances usage in real time  
• RGESN : Diagnosis of environmental impact of digital solution, according to best practices and proposition of solutions for improvement, with associated impact reduction

Our partnership with Academics to prepare the future

• ISA 
• ISAE SUPAERO 
• INSA 
  

Our support for sustainable aviation 

We support the transition of the entire aviation value chain of the aeronautical industry : At OEMS and MROs level (Engineering, Manufacturing, supply chain, Customer Services and maintenance), at operations ecosystem level (airports, Air Traffic Manager, Airline companies, Regulators) and at passenger experience level (commuting). 

Our offer is organized around 4 pillars : 

In the framework of our Aeroline Sustain program, we are working with industry and strategic partners. Our experts are involved in ambitious sustainable projects and specialized ecosystems. They also develop value propositions via demonstrators, digital platforms and re-deployable tools. 

Our main customers on sustainability projects 

• Airbus
• SAFRAN 
• EUROCONTROL 
• Aerospace Valley 

Our main assets on sustainability

• AEROMAPS : Simulation of aviation climate trajectories, based on various factors and levers for action. Tool developed in partnership with ISAE-Supaero AeroMAPS (isae-supaero.fr) 
  
• EVAA : Analysis of concept of operations, proposition of contrails avoidance and continuous Descent Operation (CDO) scenarios, for trajectory optimization 
  
• LCA :  Measurement and quantification of the environmental impact of products and services along its life cycle and integration of environmental results into the solutions, as cost and performance constraints  
• Carbon planner: Integration of carbon impact in industrial planification, based on SAF-SFM 

Our goal is to position Sopra Steria and its Aeroline vertical in structuring programs of sustainable aviation, to contribute actively to major R&T innovative projects (Horizon EU, Clean Aviation, SESAR etc.) and to international working groups (IAEG, the International Aerospace Environmental Group), in order to put digitalization at the center of the levers impacting the aviation sustainability roadmaps, as Net Zero by 2050 trajectory.