Direct supply of solar energy to Indian Railways will enable two billion passengers to travel on solar powered trains and help save almost seven millions tonnes of carbon a year, according to a study. The study conducted by NGO Climate Trends and UK-based green tech start-up Riding Sunbeams said “direct supply of solar energy to Indian Railway lines – without the need to connect via the grid – will power at least one in four trains on the national network on competitive terms.”
Report co-author and Riding Sunbeams Founder and Director of innovation Leo Murray said, “Right now India is leading the world on two vital climate frontiers – rail electrification and solar power deployment. Our analysis shows that connecting these two keystone low-carbon technologies together in Indian Railways can drive both India’s economic recovery from the Covid pandemic and its efforts to transition off fossil fuels to tackle the climate crisis.”
