Comprehensive energy policy of Indian railways

Abstract

Indian Railways is a biggest consumer of energy in India. It’s energy bill soaring every year with unimaginable pace. It constitutes not only the electricity bill, but also account for huge diesel bill. According to available data energy bill was around 26,000 crores (Electricity bill- 11,000 cores and Diesel bill- 15,000 crores) in 2016-17. This energy bill keeps on increasing exponentially as the need of power is increasing day by day by for traction and not traction purposes. IR commitment to 100% electrification will result in huge demand for electricity in coming future. This policy paper discusses the existing energy conservation and energy management practices, what are the step taken by the railways to increase the energy efficiency, how IR is trying to reduce its dependency on non- renewable energy sources-harness the potential of renewable energy, means opted by railways to decrease the dependency in power purchase from state electricity board. After that paper discuss about the requirement for comprehensive energy policy in Indian Railways. Looking at the huge potential of improvement in energy use which will reduce our energy bill and improve our operating ratio indirectly, it becomes evident to opt a comprehensive policy, which monitor all the possible stream of energy related issue. I have bifurcated the current energy management practices in IR is either for reducing the energy bill or reducing our carbon footprint. Use of LED light, generation of high capacity electric engine, use of five- star appliances, regular energy audit etc. are some of the measures IR has initiated to reduce the energy bill. While installation of captive solar and wind plant, use of EOG etc. will bring down carbon footprint generated by IR. After discussing about the need for ‘comprehensive energy policy’, this paper talk about requirement for change in bureaucratic old age structure for efficient and fast pace implementation of energy efficient measures. After that this paper discuss the measures which will effectively improve the railways energy management and efficiency, and these measures either need small investment or large investment. This paper also challenges the railways policy of 100% electrification on its cost-benefit analysis, which is a regular practice before electrification in western countries. In the end this paper talk about the financial model which will be suitable for these projects for its successful implementation.