Developing a carbon emission tool for Indian highways

The Steer India team developed a cutting-edge carbon emission tool for Indian highways. One of our marquee clients, committed to reducing carbon emissions and fostering sustainability in its operations, sought a unique solution tailored to India's evolving highway landscape.

While the Client had employed tools like MOVES and COPERT for other regions, India presented a new challenge and opportunity due to the unavailability of a standard emissions toolkit and lack of reliable data sources. With their initial investment in India, the client recognized the importance of addressing carbon emissions in this emerging market.

In response to this challenge, the Client’s Environmental Department entrusted Steer with the task of creating a bespoke tailpipe carbon emissions tool. Leveraging their global expertise in transport infrastructure and their extensive experience in the Indian toll road sector, Steer crafted a tool specifically designed to account for the distinct traffic and emission characteristics of Indian highways.

What were the project’s objectives?

The primary goal of the project was to develop a tool capable of calculating carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) from tailpipe emissions, built upon established scientific methodologies. Steer meticulously studied and documented existing tools and methodologies from around the world, including COPERT, developed by the European Environment Agency, and MOVES, used by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and conducted a comprehensive analysis of available tools globally. This research culminated in the identification of the most suitable tool for the Client's specific needs.

The resulting tool harnesses Indian traffic and fleet data, distinguishing between light and heavy vehicles, and enables the calculation of tailpipe carbon emissions for future years. It was rigorously tested and validated for use with the Client’s road portfolio in India, where they have recently invested, with scalability to cover other assets in the future.

Our approach 

Steer's unique advantage in this project was their prior involvement in comprehensive traffic and revenue due diligence when the Client was undertaking investment in the Indian road portfolio. This experience provided invaluable insights into the traffic profiles and characteristics of each asset, yielding critical data inputs for the emissions calculator.

The approach to developing this tool involved four main tasks that seamlessly flowed together to create a robust emissions forecasting tool. Steer's market assessment influenced their methodology and data inputs, resulting in a comprehensive tool that not only addresses current emissions but also anticipates future emission trends.

In summary, this project represents a remarkable collaboration between Client and Steer, with a profound impact on carbon emissions reduction in India's highway sector. The bespoke tool developed is a testament to their commitment to sustainability and innovation, providing a powerful means to monitor and mitigate the carbon footprint of Indian toll roads.