India, with its vast 66.000 km railway network, is one of the largest users of trains in the world. To run this rail network, the country consumes almost XNUMX million tonnes of fuel each year. three million liters of diesel fuelNearly half of the passenger trains are powered by diesel locomotives, although some also use biodiesel. The other half of the network is electrified. This dependence on fossil fuels has led the Indian government to look for clean and sustainable alternatives.
It is important to note that the majority of the railway infrastructure was built before 1947, the year India gained independence. Only 20% of the tracks were built after that date. This obsolescence has motivated the Indian government to upgrade its railway network, not only to improve operations, but also to reduce its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
Transforming Indian Railways with renewable energy
Indian Railways, the government-owned company that manages the railway network, transports more than 23 million people and moves 2,65 million tons of freight every day. These numbers reflect the magnitude of the country’s railway system and the urgent need to change the current model to a more sustainable one. In recent years, Indian Railways has begun to implement an ambitious plan to reduce its CO2 emissions and improve energy efficiency through several initiatives, one of the most innovative being the incorporation of solar energy into its hybrid trains.
Technology in solar hybrid trains
Although there are still thousands of trains operating on diesel engines, India has been a pioneer in introducing hybrid trains powered in part by solar energy. These hybrid DEMU trains (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit) are not completely solar, but they do have Solar panels on the roof make a significant contribution to powering the trains' electrical system, covering lighting, ventilation and passenger information displays. This hybrid system enables considerable fuel savings and reduces carbon emissions.
India first started looking into the possibility of using solar power on its trains in 2013, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). Initially, solar power was used only for lighting and air conditioning inside the coaches, but after several experiments and improvements, in July 2017 Indian Railways launched its first DEMU trains with solar panels installed on the roof.
Each car of these trains has 16 solar panels, capable of generating up to 300 watts electricity. This energy is used to power electrical systems such as LED lamps and electronic meters. The installed batteries allow a range of 72 hours long. without the need for sunlight, ensuring the train can operate at night or in low-light conditions.
Savings and environmental benefits
It is estimated that the addition of solar panels to hybrid trains will allow for savings of 21.000 liters of diesel per train per year. Each carriage could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by almost 9 tons annually. These figures are significant considering that Indian Railways has planned to initially equip 50 carriages with solar panels and expand this number to 274 carriages in the coming months.
Apart from the use of solar energy, Indian Railways has adopted other sustainable measures to reduce its carbon footprint. The coaches are equipped with ecological dry toilets, which do not use water, and systems have been implemented to recycle water from the toilets. Waste generated during the journeys is also managed and recycled.
Future projects
Indian Railways' ambition does not end here. The government has set a target of generating 1 GW of electricity from solar panels by 2020 and expand this capability to 5 GW by 2025In addition, wind turbines with a capacity of 130 MW to provide clean energy to stations and trains.
By 2025, 25% of the electricity used by the Indian railway network is expected to come from renewable energy sources, which represents a major step towards decarbonizing transport in a country that has 1.300 million and where the train is one of the main means of transport.
Another notable measure is Indian Railways' commitment to reforestation. Part of its sustainability strategy includes an ambitious plan to plant 50 million trees near tracks and stations, which will help improve air quality and increase CO2 absorption.
India's commitment to sustainability and innovation in its rail network is an example for other developing nations to follow and proof that it is possible to modernise aging infrastructure without having to compromise on environmental protection.