In a major milestone, aerospace startup SiriNor, operating in India and Norway, has recently completed a ground test in Pune for its all-electric, zero-emission jet engine.
“The test was conducted in Pimpri and marks a key step toward commercialising clean emission-free aviation,” Abhijeet Inamdar, co-founder and CEO of SiriNor, told The Indian Express.
The deeptech startup with the tagline ‘Fly Fossil Free’ and a commitment to eliminating greenhouse gas emissions has made Pune its base in India for a couple of months now.
It is equipped with a highly technical team of aerospace engineers, propulsion specialists, apart from simulation experts.
According to Inamdar, the precision manufacturing ecosystem is fantastic in Pune.
“We are developing the first all-electric jet engine and completed the on-ground test of its proprietary propulsion system in Pune,” he said.
The milestone validated the engine at Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL 6) under NASA’s framework, marking a critical step towards full commercialisation.
The engine prototype ran successfully in the test rig by not only achieving but surpassing the design intent of 40,000 Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) and 10 kgf (kilogramme force) thrust as measured by a load cell.
“Its scalable architecture supports applications across Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Regional Aircraft, Seaplanes, and Defence Platforms,” Inamdar said,
Inamdar, who hails from Solapur, moved to the United States, where he pursued a Master’s degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, while Ivar Aune who is also the co-founder and chairman of SiriNor, is based in Stavanger, Norway.
They claimed that the engine is power-agnostic and compatible with both electric battery packs and hydrogen fuel cells.
“This removes the need for combustion chambers or exotic materials, cutting manufacturing costs by 30 per cent and maintenance by up to 40 per cent,” Inamdar added.
According to the European Aviation Environmental Report, aviation’s share of global carbon emissions is projected to increase, reaching approximately 2.5% of total carbon dioxide emissions in 2025.
SiriNor will now target UAV engine commercialisation by mid-2026 and certification milestones for larger platforms such as seaplanes and regional aircraft by 2027 and 2030, respectively, to establish a strong footprint in the USD 100+ billion global jet engine market by 2030.
“Aviation holds immense promise as a sustainable mode of transportation. Despite efforts to reduce emissions, such as improved fuel efficiency and the integration of sustainable aviation fuels, the industry’s rapid growth has outpaced these initiatives. At SiriNor, we are focused on unique zero-emission electric jet engines that are suitable not just for aircraft, but also for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), air taxis and so on. If it flies, we have a green solution for it,” Inamdar said.
The StartUp founders also said that potential tie-ups for component manufacturing and supply chain are already underway with strategic partnerships in Pune, Bangalore, Coimbatore, and Hyderabad.
The milestone validated the engine at Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL 6) under NASA’s framework, marking a critical step towards full commercialisation.
(Express Photo) 
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