Indian Railways' Path to Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2030

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Context

Indian Railways is exploring the use of nuclear power. It basically seeks to increase reliance on non-fossil fuel sources and renewable ones.

Background: Indian Railways and its emissions

• Indian railways have the fourth-largest railway network in the world and Indian Railways is the largest consumer of electricity.
• For a very long period, coal and diesel were the primary sources of energy for the Indian railway system. Later the system of electrification of the railway tracks came into the picture.
• Electrification of railways has significantly reduced the dependence on non-renewable sources of energy for the functioning of railways and benefits both environment and efficiency.
• But still, India's transport sector's greenhouse gas emissions are 12 per cent, out of which 4 per cent contribution is from the railway industry. This is because Greenhouse Gas Emissions takes place for production of electricity. So, indirectly and some directly (lights, fans, rail office, and other train-related loads), the Railways are still contributing to emissions.

Indian Railways' Goal to achieve Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2030

• The Government of India, as part of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), has set a target of 33% emissions intensity reduction. In this the transport sector including the railway sector has substantial mitigation potential.
• So far, Railways has electrified over 96 per cent of total broad-gauge network. With 100% electrification, the demand for electricity will go up to about significantly by 2029-30. Carbon emission (indirectly for the production of electricity) by 2029-30 is estimated to be 60 million tons.
• The Railways plans to become a net zero carbon emitter by 2030.
• By 2030, the total energy requirement of the Railways is expected to increase to 8,200 MW, or 8.2 GW. A small portion of the projected energy requirement — 700 MW or 8.5 per cent of the total energy demand — will still be sourced from non-renewable sources because of the current power purchase agreements with coal plants.
• The lion’s share — 91.5 per cent — will be met through renewable sources.
• For this, the Railways will need to create a renewable energy installed capacity of 30,000 MW as solar and wind energy is not available round the clock and the generation varies region to region.

Reforms undertaken by Indian Railways

For Net-Zero Carbon Emission:

• Indian Railways has installed 142 MW solar rooftop capacity and 103.4 MW of Wind energy till August, 2022.
• Other strategies towards Net Zero emitter includes taking a multi-pronged approach of Electrification of its routes, shifting from diesel to electric traction, promotion of energy efficiency, construction of Dedicated Freight Corridors, Green certification of Railway Establishments etc.

Creation of Additional Carbon sink by Afforestation

• Afforestation on vacant railway land and in between sections is carried out by Railway departmentally.
• Indian Railways has been planting around 1 crore trees annually since 2017 onwards.

Waste Management:

Waste to energy/compost/biogas plants/Material recovery facility have been set at more than 250 stations to manage waste. Separate bins have been provided for dry and wet waste for waste segregation at source.

Green certification/Consent to operate from State Pollution Control Board since 2015

• Around 700 Railway Stations have been certified for implementation of Environment Management System to ISO:14001
• More than 545 stations have achieved Consent to operate (CTO) from respective State Pollution Control Board.
• 31 railway buildings (including offices, training institutes, hospitals and schools), 32 stations and 55 workshops/PUs have achieved green certification.

Policy for allocating 1% cost in all sanctioned Works for executing environment related works:

This is to contain the impact of activities on environment and for protection of the environment.

Environment friendly Bio–Toilets for Passenger Coaches:

• Environment-friendly Bio-toilets for passenger coaches have been developed by Indian Railways (IR) jointly with Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO).
• The direct discharge of human waste from trains has thus been eliminated in line with ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’.

Third party Audit/Survey including Passenger feedback on Cleanliness:

Third Party audit cum survey on cleanliness of major stations started in 2016. Such surveys provide independent assessment and also instill a sense of healthy competition in improving cleanliness in passenger interface areas.

Other Steps being taken

• The Railways is already in the process of commissioning solar power units and wind-based power plants. Hydel power would also be tapped.
• Some 2,637 stations and service buildings have been provided with solar roof-top plants with a total power generation capacity of 177 MW.
• Different zonal Railways like Northeast Frontier Railway zone and Central Railways are rolling out initiatives – including tapping into renewable sources – as part of their greening initiatives.
• For use of renewables, the Railways is exploring partnerships with Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), NTPC, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), among others.

Looking Ahead

Shifting to Solar Energy Sources

• Switching to solar energy would result in a 8 million tonne yearly decrease in carbon dioxide emissions, "significantly" adding to the 15 million tonne reductions from electrification. – INVESTINDIA.GOV REPORT
• Moving toward an electrified railway system and minimising the usage of diesel-powered trains as much as possible are prerequisite steps to achieving "net-zero" emissions. If Indian railways accomplish this goal, it will reduce 15 million tonnes of Carbon Dioxide (CO2).

Energy from Nuclear Power Plants

• Indian Railways is planning to establish captive nuclear power plants as part of its strategy to become a net-zero emitter. This initiative aims to significantly reduce the railway sector’s carbon footprint by harnessing nuclear energy, which provides a low-carbon alternative to fossil fuels.

Captive Power Generation Units

Be it solar, wind, nuclear or hydel, Indian Railways is planning to have their own captive use power plants, small reactors and captive power generating units in every sector to secure a sustainable energy future.

Note: A captive power plant, is an electricity generation facility used and managed by an industrial or commercial energy user for their own energy consumption.

READ ABOUT INDIA’S UPDATED NDCs: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/carbon-credits-market

SOURCE: PIB and HinduBusinessLine