Electrification of Indian Railways: Transition to Clean Energy Initiatives

Indian Railways (IR) is the world's fourth biggest railway network, moving a record 1,418 million tonnes (MT) of cargo in the fiscal year 2021-22. IR is often referred to as the lifeline of the country since it performs brilliantly in addressing the logistics demands of the country. The Indian Railways has committed to 100% electrification as part of its objective of being a net zero carbon emitter by 2030. This is in line with the Indian government's declared goal of reaching Net Zero carbon emissions by 2070, as announced by Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi at the COP26 in Glasgow. Once this route is completed, Indian Railways will have accomplished the extraordinary accomplishment of becoming the world's largest green railway system.

The Union Ministry of Railways has set a target of December 2023 for achieving 100% electrification, which is funded by a budget allocation of US$ 974.82 (Rs. 8,070 crore) for the financial year 2023–24. As of April 1st,2023, Indian Railways has achieved a milestone by accomplishing a total electrified broad-gauge route of 58,812 route kilo metres (RKM) i.e., 90.06%, which is 100% electrified. This would result in reduced line haul cost, heavier haulage capacity, increased sectional capacity, reduced operating & maintenance cost of the electric loco, energy-efficient and eco-friendly mode of transportation with reduced dependence on imported crude oil, saving of foreign exchange. The Indian Railways operated 11,2831 trains per day on average before to the pandemic crisis and moved 1,232.64 million tonnes (MT) 2 of goods in fiscal 2020-21. Given the scale of the activities, the energy requirements of the railways are massive. The railroads are meeting SDG 9 by modernising their infrastructure and electrifying their lines, which is a push to construct resilient infrastructure and stimulate innovation. Furthermore, this will assist the railways in significantly decreasing their carbon emissions, with regard to SDG 13, which emphasises the need to take immediate action to combat climate change and its adverse impacts.

Indian Railways

Indian Railways intends to electrify a total of 28,810 km of broad-gauge track by December 2023. The Ministry of Railways plans to transform Indian Railways (IR) into “Green Railways” to achieve 100 % electrification of Broad Gauge (BG) routes by 2023-24.

Indian Railways has made significant progress in reducing its carbon footprint and fuel costs, and it is committed to becoming a 'net-zero' carbon emissions organisation by 2030. Some of its primary decarbonization measures include 100% electrification of the railway's broad-gauge network, reduced energy use, and meeting energy demand through renewable energy (RE). Indian Railways already has 220 MW of renewable energy capacity, with another 3,450 MW in the works.

Source: Indian Railways

The above graph depicts the trends of electrification in India during 2018-19 to 2022-23. The largest ever electrification of sections accounting for 6,565 Route Kilometres (RKM) in a single year during 2022-23, exceeds the previous high of 6,366 RKM reached in 2021-22. More than 6,000 RKM in three consecutive years, 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23, notwithstanding Covid limits. The most recent broad-gauge network of Indian railroads is 65,300 route kilometres (RKM), including the Konkan Railway, of which approximately 90% will be electrified by March 31st, 2023.

Source: Indian Railways

As of March 2023, 14 states and union territories, including Haryana, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, and Uttar Pradesh, had reached 100% electricity. In accordance with the Centre's seven goals, or Saptarshi, as outlined in the Union Budget, a notable milestone was the completion of railway track electrification in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Electrification
When the railway network is fully electrified, diesel locomotive-hauled trains will be phased out, helping to reduce pollution and India's reliance on imported fuel. The project will contribute to the country's energy security by offering an energy-efficient and environmentally pleasant mode of transportation.

The electrification is being done in two ways:

• To electrify India's entire Broad-Gauge network
• To release the railways' ability to utilise renewable energy, particularly solar, by making use of vast land parcels accessible along the railway route.

Impact of Green Initiatives of Indian Railways

According to its energy efficiency strategy, Indian Railways intends to gradually cut its use of fossil fuel-generated power for non-traction loads by up to 630 million units by 2029-30, equating to 0.51 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions.

Source: Indian Railways

According to Indian Railways' Energy-Efficiency Action Plan & Policy (IREAP), the extra cost for structures that comply with the maximum level of Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC), also known as SuperECBC, is roughly 3-5% more than the business-as-usual levels. However, it saves 50% more energy than a traditional structure.

Increased energy efficiency in the existing building sector is predicted to lower energy consumption by 20-25%, equating to 530 million units of electricity and 0.42 million tonnes of CO2e when compared to present energy use.

Optimisation of energy demand through initiatives such as retrofitting of Head on Generation (HOG) systems in locomotives, installation of 100% LED lights and high star-rated appliances, conducting energy audits, implementing smart metering, conversion of diesel locomotives to electric locomotives, increased production of electric locomotives, performance-based contracting for production of high-powered locomotives, and deployment of energy-efficient rakes.

Indian Railways has totally shifted to the manufacturing of energy-efficient three-phase electric locomotives with regenerative features, which allow for the regeneration of electric energy while the train is braking and the regenerative energy to be transmitted back into the grid.

Loco pilots are routinely counselled to use the regenerative function and to turn off the blower if their yard detention exceeds 15 minutes. When a train has a light load, the trailing locomotives are turned off to conserve energy. Energy usage is measured on a regular basis using microprocessor-based energy metres, which are standard on all electric locomotives.

Benefits of Electrification
Electric trains are three times more efficient than diesel or hydrogen trains and between 40% and 300% more dependable than diesel trains, which lowers energy requirements. They also have superior acceleration, allowing for quicker and longer goods trains to run.

• From 2024, about 30 billion units of electricity will be required for electrification, creating enormous opportunities for renewable energy generation.
• Overhead line equipment like as conductors, transformers and insulators will naturally grow in demand, creating significant potential for suppliers.
• With more solar and wind power installations, direct power purchase agreements are anticipated to rise.
• As additional sidings get electrified, considerably faster loading and unloading will be feasible, allowing siding owners to convey more products by electric trains.
• Sidings are low-speed lines that are independent of the main line, branch line or spur.
• Electrification will also create several opportunities for rolling stock firms. Even electric locomotives will pick up speed.
• Engineers, procurement and construction (EPC) firms are likely to have a plethora of opportunities in the infrastructure creation for railway electrification.
• Substation capacity would be boosted as well, creating possibilities for transmission and distribution utilities.

Partnerships

• Indian Railways is working with a number of donor organisations and partners to speed its low-carbon transition journey. It has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for collaboration on energy and sustainability as part of its Power Sector Reforms Programme.
• The Marhowra project, a joint venture between Railways and General Electric to deliver and maintain new diesel-electric locomotives with capacities ranging from 4,500 to 6,000 horsepower (HP), was launched in November 2015. According to the contract, GE will deliver 1,000 locomotives. The first GE locomotive has already arrived in India as part of the US$ 2.5 billion, 10-year deal.
• POWERGRID has collaborated with Indian Railway to electrify un-electrified railway tracks.
  • Pune-Miraj-Kolhapur (CR)- (326 Route Km)
  •  Chhindwara-Nainpur-Mandla Fort (SECR)-(183 Route Km)
  •  Mansi-Sahrsa-Dauram Madhepura (ECR)- (63 Route Km)
  •  Londa-Miraj (SWR)- (189 Route Km)

Renewable Energy technologies for green power procurement by Indian Railways

Indian Railways has been steadily installing solar panels on the rooftops of its different stations and service buildings to satisfy its non-traction power requirements. More than 1,000 stations have been outfitted with rooftop solar panels, with more in the pipeline.

Non-traction energy is employed in a variety of applications, including railway structures, stations, yards, homes, workshops, and maintenance depots. It is estimated that one-third of the total energy utilized by trains is for these uses.

Indian Railways also intends to build a one-of-a-kind solar plus storage hybrid pilot project at Dahod, Gujarat, which would be connected to the railway traction network.

National Rail Plan Vision – 2030
By 2030, the plan is to have a 'future-ready' railway system. The NRP aims to develop strategies based on both operational capabilities and commercial policy measures to enhance the Railways' modal share in goods to 45%. The Plan's goal is to build capacity ahead of demand, which will allow it to meet projected demand increases up to 2050 while also increasing and maintaining railways' modal share in freight traffic to 45%. The key objectives are as follows:

• Develop plans based on both operational capabilities and commercial policy measures to enhance the railways' modal share in freight to 45%.
• Reduce freight transit time significantly by boosting freight train average speed to 50Kmph.
• As part of the National Rail Plan, Vision 2024 has been launched to expedite the completion of certain critical projects by 2024, such as 100% electrification, multi-tracking of congested routes, increasing speed to 160 kmph on Delhi-Howrah and Delhi-Mumbai routes, increasing speed to 130 kmph on all other GQ/GD routes, and eliminating all Level Crossings on all GQ/GD routes.
• Determine the existence of new Dedicated Freight Corridors.
• Find new High-Speed Rail Corridors.
• Examine the need for rolling stock for passenger traffic as well as wagons for freight.
• Examine locomotive requirements in order to accomplish the twin goals of 100% electrification (Green Energy) and growing freight modal share.
• Determine the overall capital investment necessary, as well as a periodic break-up.
• Continuous engagement of the private sector in sectors such as operations and ownership of rolling stock, development of freight and passenger terminals, development/operations of rail infrastructure, etc.

Road Ahead
The fourth industrial revolution, known as Railway 4.0, is what differentiates the railways' fast digitization. It has the potential to improve train stock, signaling, and rail infrastructure while enhancing asset operating performance. Coach production and design, signaling and traffic control, freight management, train services, staff management and customer management are all major areas of digitalization in the rail business. These aspects of the IR are being redesigned, developed, delivered, and operated using technology that involves stakeholders in cooperative partnerships, revolutionizing how the Railways execute. The partnership of startups with the railroads, on the other hand, has the ability to tackle various daily difficulties that the Indian railroads encounter.