FCC

Railways releases energy-efficiency plan to reach 2030 net-zero goal

2023-01-03

A five-point energy efficiency strategy has been unveiled by the Railway ministry to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. With efficient operations and increased use of renewable energy, the ministry hopes to lower overall energy use.

India has set a goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2070 as part of its commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The goal year for the railways is 2030.

The policy is primarily focused on five action points: energy-efficient equipment and appliances, a cloud-based data monitoring and management site, sustainable buildings, power quality and restoration, and capacity building and awareness.

Operations classified as non-traction are those that are not directly related to the movement of trains on the railway system.

By installing rooftop solar panels for all railroad facilities, the railways hopes to boost the amount of renewable energy it uses for non-traction.

More than 2,100 GWh of power are used for non-traction end purposes annually, and by 2030, as Indian Railways' network and infrastructure grow, that amount is expected to rise by 30%. Reducing the energy usage intensity of current and future infrastructure and switching to renewable energy sources must be done in concert to meet the Net Zero Emissions target.

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