Potential and challenges of using hydrogen to decarbonise Indian Railways

The Indian Railways is one of the largest railway networks in the world, transporting millions of passengers and tonnes of freight daily. It has had a historically high demand for fossil fuels to meet the operational energy requirements, resulting in high operational costs and a high emission footprint. The government aims to tackle these challenges through 100% electrification of the railway network by 2024 and by becoming a net-zero emitter by 2030. Although the rate of electrification has been significant (over 93% of broad-gauge routes are electrified at present), concerns remain on the economic feasibility of electrifying certain sections of railways. In this context, there is a potential for transitioning to other clean energy alternatives, such as green hydrogen. The Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) conducted a study to examine the potential for using green hydrogen on existing railway routes. The technical feasibility and financial viability of hydrogen-based trains were assessed based on two use cases:

Kalka–Shimla route, a hilly terrain, and
Industrial shunting yard route, used by public sector undertakings/private industries
The potential hydrogen-powered trains were compared against existing diesel-powered trains, electrified lines, and battery-powered trains. The findings of the two use cases showed a favourable outcome for hydrogen trains.

Dhiraj Kumar and Dhruv Rajeev co-authored the report.