• +917676167901
  • info@jiceias.com
Login

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 07th April 2025

Home / UPSC / Current Affairs / Electrified railway- changing track to hydrogen

Electrified railway- changing track to hydrogen

Why in News?

Indian Railways is nearing 100% electrification, raising questions about the economic and strategic rationale of investing in hydrogen-powered locomotives.

Electrified railway- changing track to hydrogen

Introduction

  • Indian Railways, one of the largest rail networks in the world, is nearing 100% electrification, marking a significant milestone in India’s transport decarbonisation journey.
  • While the global interest in hydrogen-powered locomotives is growing, the question arises — does this align with India’s present infrastructure and climate priorities?

Electrification as a Strategic Climate and Economic Move

  • Decarbonisation Goal: Electrification is a central component of India’s commitment under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With an increasing share of electricity drawn from renewable energy sources (solar, wind), Indian Railways is fast becoming a green transport giant.
  • Economic Efficiency: Electrification has brought down traction costs considerably compared to diesel locomotion. It has also reduced dependency on imported fossil fuels, saving foreign exchange and enhancing energy security.
  • Network Readiness: Over 85% of the rail network is already electrified, and nearing complete electrification, Indian Railways has established a robust and integrated electric traction ecosystem including substations, maintenance yards, and operational protocols.

Hydrogen Locomotives: A Premature Investment?

  • Early-stage Technology: Hydrogen-powered rail technology remains experimental, with limited operational use globally (e.g., in Germany and parts of Japan). The technology’s costs are high, and efficiency remains lower than direct electrification in grid-connected systems.
  • Redundancy Concern: With almost full electrification already in place, hydrogen trains could lead to duplicative investments in infrastructure (e.g., hydrogen fuelling stations, storage units), which may not yield proportional returns.
  • Better Use Cases Elsewhere: Hydrogen trains are more relevant in non-electrified, remote, or mountainous regions where grid access is challenging — a situation no longer applicable to India’s largely electrified routes.

Conclusion

  • While innovation in hydrogen technology should continue for potential niche applications and energy diversification, India’s present priorities lie in maximising returns on its near-complete electrification.
  • For Indian Railways, the goal should be to strengthen electrified infrastructure, integrate more renewables into the grid, and explore hydrogen only where electrification is not feasible.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Address – #6, 1st  Floor , Above Just Bake,  1st Main Road,  Chandra Layout, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560040

Head Office – #1045, 2nd Floor, 6th Main Road, Vijayanagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560040

Call us:  Bengaluru: 7676167901 / 9035528526

 Dharwad: 9591673505/ 9591693505

Useful Links

Copyright © JICE ACADEMY FOR EXCELLENCE PRIVATE LIMITED