Blogs
This is the written version showing the information we had collected and presented during the video conference on 25th October , 2017.
Decarbonize:
To decarbonize means to reduce the amount of gaseous carbon compounds released in an environment or as a result of a process.
Decarbonization efforts in India:
India currently stands in a moment of opportunity in which it is evident that transitioning to low-carbon systems can bring about economic growth. The falling costs of renewable energy, ambitious government plans for rapid deployment of renewable energy, and increasing financial support from international governments and investors all indicate that the transition to a low-carbon economy is not only possible, but already underway.
One key sector of the Indian economy that could be decarbonized is the Indian Railways (IR), India’s national railway service ,and this would help India achieve its 2030 emissions-reduction goals as well as improve energy security by reducing fossil fuel imports , besides being more cost effective than the business-as-usual way.
A first and essential step to Decarbonization of IR is to transition to an electrified rail network, and away from a diesel-powered rail network. As of 2015, IR used predominantly coal-based power and diesel fuel. It had electrified 38% of its track (in route kms), which carries approximately 63% of freight traffic and 50% of passenger traffic. An electrified rail network can more easily transition to clean energy alternatives such as solar and wind power.
Assuming electrification to the maximum extent possible, eight possible Decarbonization pathways separately for the traction segment (energy use for the railroads) and the non-traction segment (energy use for the supporting infrastructure: the stations, service buildings, street lighting, etc.) of IR have been examined and identified. The different scenarios that have been considered are: captive generation (where IR builds and owns renewable energy capacity) vs. purchasing renewable energy; at a normal rate (100% decarbonization by 2030) vs. at an accelerated rate (100% decarbonization by 2020); and an all solar power pathway vs. a mix of solar and wind power.
In order for decarbonization of IR to be successful, it’s necessary for the pathway to decarbonization to be both cost-effective and feasible to implement.The cost-effectiveness of each pathway, as well as potential barriers to implementation, have also been examined.
Solar and wind power are the most feasible clean electricity options for IR, because other renewable sources have much longer construction times. To assess cost-effectiveness, we compared the costs of each Decarbonization pathway (which includes all costs, except balancing costs) with a business-as-usual scenario, where IR does not decarbonize at all, in both net present value terms and yearly cash outflows.
For the traction segment, we found that all Decarbonization pathways are at least 15-17% more cost-effective than business-as-usual, and that the most cost-effective pathway is captive generation, at an accelerated rate of decarbonization.
For the non-traction segment, we found that the pathway of captive generation at an accelerated rate of decarbonization is even more cost-effective than in the traction segment, being 69% cheaper than business-as-usual. Furthermore, in net present value terms, all decarbonization pathways are at least 33% cheaper than business-as-usual, with the accelerated captive generation pathway providing a 50% cost savings over business-as-usual.
Decarbonization of IR by 2030 will lower costs by at least 17% in the traction segment, and at least 33% in the non-traction segment, when compared with business as usual.
There are several challenges to implementation of decarbonization that will be important to address, particularly poor implementation of state policies around net metering and open access, and the need for low-cost and feasible balancing options for renewable energy.
State policies around net metering and open access, which facilitate load balancing and third-party power procurement, vary and are often poorly implemented, and could become a significant barrier to the decarbonization efforts.
To manage issues around net metering policies, IR should enter into net metering arrangements with states which have already encouraged net metering, particularly Tamil Nadu, Delhi, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh. Similarly, to manage issues around open access policies, IR should aim to procure power from independent power producers in the states that have already successfully implemented the open access policy.
