Indian Railways (IR) has recently made headlines with its ambitious goal to become the world’s first ‘net-zero’ carbon emitter by 2030. IR’s green initiative involves multiple strategies, including increased utilization of Renewable Energy (RE), electrification of their traction network, and energy consumption reduction.
All About Indian Railways
With the world’s fourth largest railway network, Indian Railways is also one of the largest electricity consumers in India. It provides passenger services to 24 million people daily, plying 13,000 trains across approximately 67,956 km. Freight services move 3.3 million tonnes of freight per day, resulting in massive fuel requirements.
The Carbon Footprint of Indian Railways
Transport sector contributes to 12% of India’s greenhouse gas emissions, and railways have a 4% share in these emissions. However, there is considerable potential for emissions reduction. Increasing freight share from current 33% to the target of 50% by 2030 can greatly cut down on carbon dioxide emissions. This shift from road to rail transport could reduce logistics costs from 14% to 10% of GDP and decrease CO2 emissions by 70% by 2050.
Railway Initiatives Toward Decarbonization
To mitigate its carbon output, Indian Railways has implemented several initiatives. It seeks to raise the volume of freight transport from 35% in 2015 to 45% by 2030, lessening emissions from transportation overall. The vision is to achieve complete electrification by the fiscal year 2024, which would make it the world’s largest 100% electrified rail transportation system.
Embracing Solar Power
Indian Railways aims to install 20 Gigawatts (GW) of solar power for both traction and non-traction loads. To this end, they have constructed solar power plants in Bina, Madhya Pradesh, and Diwana, Haryana, and have begun work on a third pilot plant in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh. In addition, solar panels have been installed in over 960 stations to meet energy requirements.
Private Sector Participation
To drive the project forward, the ministry has introduced provisions like a Letter of Credit (LC) in case of railway payment default, and penalties for late payment in the model bidding document for solar power developers.
Challenges to Overcome
Despite the progressive steps taken, challenges persist. Regulatory issues have hindered the No-objection certificate for open access in several states. Plus, states providing wheeling and banking arrangements could facilitate the full deployment of solar potential. Changes like the merger of solar purchase obligation and non-solar purchase obligation and unrestricted net metering regulations for rooftop solar projects would expedite the deployment of railway solar plants.
Understanding Net-Zero Emissions
Net-zero emissions imply a balance between greenhouse gas emissions produced and those removed from the atmosphere. It involves minimizing human-caused emissions and compensating remaining GHGs with carbon removal techniques such as reforesting.
Global and Indian Scenarios
As of June 2020, twenty countries and regions have committed to net-zero targets, with Bhutan already being carbon-negative. Although India’s per capita CO2 emissions are significantly lower than global average, it is the third-largest overall emitter behind China and USA. The sectors contributing the most to emissions are energy, industry, forestry, transport, agriculture, and building.
