July 19, 2024
📰 FEATURE STORY
Is 100% electrification of the Indian Railways a good idea?
The Indian Railways have come a long way over the decades. We went from the humble locomotive to Vande Bharat trains crisscrossing the country. They’re the lifeblood for crores of people every day, making it, by some estimates, the fourth-largest railways in the world by network.
The government has big plans for the Railways, not the least of which is giving them a zero carbon footprint. The goal is 100% electrification of the entire railway network and attain net-zero status by 2030. On paper, this sounds like a great idea. But is it really?
Context
India has set ambitious net zero goals to help tackle and mitigate climate change and global warming. Various state governments have dedicated policies to accelerate Electric Vehicle (EV) adoption by people. Civic bodies are increasingly looking to provide sustainable modes of public transportation and discourage private transport with ICE vehicles.
At COP28 in Dubai, India reaffirmed its status among the world’s top performers, climbing to 7th position in the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI). In 2014, India was ranked 31.
India recognised that climate action requires interconnectedness between governments and businesses. That’s even more necessary in the world’s fastest-growing major economy, where rapid GDP growth needs to be balanced with environmental consciousness and sustainability.
In this context, it’s understandable why the government turned toward the Railways as its next big undertaking for electrification. The biggest reason is how popular and necessary it is for most Indians. In the last fiscal, the Indian Railways ferried over 5.8 billion passengers.
Electric rail transportation was first introduced here in 1925. A 16 km section was electrified to provide a rapid suburban service from the Mumbai suburbs into the city. Post-independence till the early years of the 21st century, the focus was mainly on intercity and commuter lines for electrification.
Until the 1980s, locomotives were steam-powered. The introduction of the diesel locomotive brought its own issues. Things changed in 2015 when the National Railway Board set up the Environment Directorate to coordinate environmental initiatives across the Indian Railways. While companies would try to achieve this by focusing on carbon offsets, i.e., compensate for emissions by undertaking green activities, the Railways wants to reduce emissions. The goal was to cut carbon emissions by 33% by 2030.
While the Indian Railways has used a mix of renewable sources for things like lights and fans in offices and railway stations, the network still depended on coal. While significant progress has been made till now, will 100% electrification truly help India in energy security?
VIEW: A necessary step
The Railways can’t be left behind or ignored on India’s net zero journey. The government has ensured that won’t happen, and the progress has been remarkable. Beginning in 2014, the Railways accelerated phasing out diesel coaches and electrifying broad gauge tracks. It has already yielded positive results as the annual diesel consumption of the Railways decreased to 1,092 million litres in 2020-21 from over 3,000 in 2018-19.
Part of why electrification is necessary is that more people will use the Railways in the years ahead. Energy needs are projected to increase to 8,200 MW by 2030. Meeting this demand only through fuel and coal is expensive. India imports most of its fuel. As the Railway network gets electrified, they won’t use as much fuel, and India doesn’t have to spend as much on importing it.
On the infrastructure side of things, the Railways will need a renewable energy installed capacity of 30,000 MW. Solar and wind energy isn’t available round the clock, and its generation varies from region to region. But the good thing is that the Railways don’t have to produce it themselves. They can draw from the grid or source from third-party vendors. On the operational side, electrification will enhance the efficiency of the network in moving heavier freight and longer passenger trains since electric locomotives are superior.
COUNTERVIEW: Could have the opposite intended effect
Electrifying such a large transport network that runs around the clock is a mammoth task. The progress so far has been exemplary, but this undertaking could backfire. While the initial plan was to convert diesel locomotives to electric, the Railways soon realised that wasn’t economically feasible. In fact, diesel locomotives work by converting oil into electricity and not by combustion, unlike road vehicles. That actually makes them quite energy efficient.
While India’s fuel bill will come down with electrification, there’s still the issue of coal. India produces over 70% of its power from fossil fuels like coal. While that’s an improvement from the 79% in 2005-06, it’s not enough. While the Railways can boast about reduced emissions, in reality, the coal burned to supply power to the railway grid will still leave a carbon footprint. Instead of locomotives, coal will still be burned at thermal plants.
The idea that operating costs would decrease with electrification only rings true if the amount of traffic crosses the traffic density. Otherwise, it would be costlier than diesel operations because electrification involves higher fixed costs. The other thing to consider is cost. Since 2016-17, the financial health of the Railways has been in bad shape. The government has already spent tens of thousands of crores, with more on the way.
Reference Links:
- Next stop net zero: Indian Railways plans to become a net zero emitter by 2030; here’s how – Down To Earth
- How India electrified 45% of its railway network in just five years – Energy Monitor
- Indian Railways hits 93.83% electrification of broad gauge tracks – Economic Times
- Indian railways an unexpected hero in climate change battle. Solar units, electrified rails – The Print
- Indian Railways: Is 100 Percent Electrification A Boon? – News18
- Why the Railways’ 100% Electrification Plan Is a Bizarre Decision – The Wire
What is your opinion on this?
(Only subscribers can participate in polls)
a) 100% electrification of the Indian Railways is a good idea.
b) 100% electrification of the Indian Railways is a bad idea.
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