Progress toward an Energy-efficient Railway system

In 2008, India released the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) to outline the strategy of the nation for climate change mitigation and adaptation. The vulnerability of the nation towards climate change and the plans to bring sustainability to the forefront while complying with the development agenda was being discussed. While aiming to achieve national growth, poverty alleviation, and ecological sustainability, the plan also targeted to promote public-private partnerships. NAPCC has eight national missions to its core i.e. National Solar Mission, National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE), National Mission on Sustainable Habitat, National Water Mission, National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Eco-system, National Mission for a Green India, National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture and National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change. Almost every department is putting in efforts to innovatively design the workflow under NAPCC. Indian Railways has also undertaken many initiatives.

The Indian Railways plans to become a Net Zero Carbon Emitter by 2030 and have an integrated approach to achieve it. The steps taken by Indian railways to achieve this target overlap with certain national missions mentioned above. However, a very important introduction was the Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT) scheme which is a regulatory instrument to reduce Specific Energy Consumption or mechanism for improvements in energy efficiency of energy-intensive industries.

Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT) is a market-based mechanism in India that aims to improve energy efficiency in energy-intensive industries, including the industrial and commercial sectors. While the mechanism primarily focuses on industries, the Indian Railways, being a major consumer of energy, has also been implementing measures to enhance energy efficiency. Here's how the PAT mechanism can be applied to the development of energy efficiency in Indian Railways:

·       Energy Efficiency Targets: Indian Railways has a target of enhancing land-based freight transport from 36% to 45% by the year 2030. Under this, Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) are being established across the country. The first phase of the project alone is estimated to reduce emissions by about 457 million ton of CO2 over 30 years. The National Logistics Policy launched in September 2022 targets the current cost of transporting India-made goods by half, by 2030 and DFCs complement the existing modes of freight transport and reduce pressure on roads. The corridors will boost economic growth by facilitating faster movement of goods from major ports and industrial hubs to hinterland areas. IR has already completed the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor.

·       Implementation of Energy Efficiency Measures: Adopting a range of measures, such as using energy-efficient technologies in trains and stations, optimizing train schedules, and upgrading lighting systems. The flagship project of Indian Railways “ Vande Bharat” is equipped with a regenerative braking system that allows the train to recover energy during braking, converting the kinetic energy of the moving train back into electrical energy. The regenerated energy can be fed back into the power system, reducing overall energy consumption. It also uses an electric traction propulsion system that is designed to be more energy-efficient compared to traditional locomotives. The lightweight and aerodynamic design of the train helps in reducing air resistance and improving energy efficiency. The streamlined profile of the train enhances its performance and minimizes energy consumption during travel. The train is equipped with LED lighting systems and energy-efficient appliances. It features automatic plug doors, which help in maintaining the internal temperature of the train more efficiently. It is designed for high-speed travel, reducing travel time between destinations. While high-speed travel requires more energy, the overall efficiency is influenced by aerodynamics, braking systems, and propulsion technology. It operates on electric traction, sourced from a mix of conventional and renewable energy. The shift toward electric traction aligns intending to transition to cleaner and more sustainable modes of transportation.

·       Incentives and Recognition: can introduce awards or incentives to motivate departments and units that demonstrate outstanding energy-saving initiatives. In 2023, Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai achieved top achievers in the PAT scheme. The Vijayawada Railway Station (VRS) in South Central Zone efforts towards green initiative have been recognized and certified as Platinum Rating Certification as a Green Railway Station by the Indian Green Building Council.

·       Collaboration with Stakeholders: Railways partners with energy service companies (ESCOs), government agencies, and other organizations to share best practices and expertise in energy efficiency. Indian Railways partnered with the United States Agency for International Development/India (USAID/India) for clean energy and energy-efficient solutions. This collaboration entails “long-term energy planning, development of an energy efficiency policy and action plan for IR buildings, clean energy procurement, addressing regulatory and implementation barriers, bid design and management support for renewable energy procurement, promotion of e-mobility”.

·       Integration with Green Initiatives: aligning with broader green initiatives, such as using renewable energy sources for electrification, promoting eco-friendly practices in station construction, and incorporating sustainable design principles. The Honourable Railway Minister announced the efforts of Indian Railways to bring a hydrogen-driven mechanism. The energy-efficient technology has just one limitation i.e. operational cost where a fuel cell-based hydrogen engine will be 27% higher than that of a diesel engine. Electrification of Indian railways has been a major step towards net zero emission. Indian Railways has planned to electrify a total of 28,810 km of broad-gauge route by December 2023. As of March 2023, 100% electrification has been completed in 14 states & and UTs including Haryana, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, and Uttar Pradesh. But the source of electricity also depends on solar energy where India is developing solar plants as an effort towards “Atma-nirbharta”.Indian railways are installing solar plants on their unused, vacant lands. Recently a solar plant in Bhilai became operational to provide green energy to IR.

·       Monitoring and Reporting: can implement robust monitoring systems to track energy usage and report progress toward achieving energy efficiency targets. Efforts are being put to plug real-time data into IR’s IT application i.e. IR- NIYANTRAC (Indian Railways Native IoT-based Yield Analysis Telemetry Recording And Control). It would enable IR “to not only efficiently monitor its real-time energy usage across various zones/divisions in a standardized way but also provide a unified data analysis platform for identifying wastages, setting new targets and monitoring performance with predictive analysis”.

·       ·       Capacity Building and Training: IR conducts training programs and workshops to enhance the skills of its personnel and create awareness about energy-efficient practices. The training for energy efficiency and green initiatives is part of these capacity-building workshops but has not included exclusive training for wildlife conservation and safeguards for Nature. The northeast frontier railways have tested AI based monitoring systems to detect the elephant movement near the track. Although this technology has been applauded, providing training to other zones of railways is still under consideration. For energy efficiency knowledge sharing, there are institutes available in India. The Ministry of Power has established a new platform called Advanced Industrial Technology Demonstration Center (AITDC) to promote clean technologies and enhance energy efficiency in the country through knowledge sharing and demonstrations of new technologies.

The Indian Railways is energy energy-intensive organization in the country, with a consumption of 18.18 billion units of electricity annually (FY 2018-19 figures), and is spending about INR 10,500 crore per annum for this power consumption. Under PAT cycle II, Indian railways have taken many initiatives to upgrade technology like  Phase Regenerative braking System in Locomotives, Use of APU (Auxiliary Processing Units), Conversion of Diesel loco to Electric Loco, Electrification of the railway network and Switching off Diesel and Electric Locos in siding if standing ideal for more 30 minutes, etc. However, PAT allows industries that surpass their energy efficiency targets to earn Energy Savings Certificates (ESCerts), which can be traded on the market. While the direct application of ESCerts may not apply to Indian Railways, a similar system could be devised where efficiency gains are recognized and incentivized. It was observed while studying the action plan of Indian Railways, that there is less information regarding two topics: green financing and capacity building regarding Nature safeguards. These can be further institutionalized into the approach of Indian Railways for net-zero carbon emitter action plan as apart from carbon reduction, India is focussing on eco-centric landscape development. With the expansion of broad gauge and electrification, the railways are very likely to overlap with natural resource-rich areas. The green initiative should not be limited only to water conservation and reducing dependency on fossil fuels but should be inclusive of the "green natural resource" (forest and wildlife).