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Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu inaugurates ‘International Summit on Energy Efficient Technologies in Railways’
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu that Indian Railways and UNDP should jointly chalk out a comprehensive road map for finding latest energy efficiency solutions. Shri Suresh Prabhu said that it is now necessary that Indian Railways itself sets standard for energy efficiency in each of its operations and then examine at vis-à-vis global benchmarks. He said that Indian Railways has already embarked upon the energy audit exercise which will help in understanding the base line which will facilitate in setting up the standards and will prepare to standup with respect to global benchmark. We need to devise integrated energy efficiency plan which incorporations intervention of appropriate technology. We have to therefore find the latest and the best technology and customize it in the Indian context. It is also imperative then to find out innovative financing for achieving these objectives in collaboration with UNDP. He said we need to understand the issue of demand side management and prepare strategies accordingly. Shri Prabhu said that Indian Railways is a natural green mode of transport and we want to make it further greener by adoption of renewable energy as a major source of energy. We are going for solarization in a big way and we have started wind energy. We have also started blending bio-diesel in this connection.
In his address Chairman Railway Board, Shri A.K. Mital said that the project initiated by the Ministry of Railways in partnership with United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is very significant. The project supports efforts to improve energy efficiency in the Indian Railways, which accounts for roughly 2% of the total electricity consumption in India.
Speaking on the occasion, Member Electrical Shri Navin Tandon said that the Summit shall aid in setting benchmarks for IRs best practices from railway systems around the world. The observations thus made will help in preparing the roadmap required for achieving the desired reduction in carbon emissions. The event will also see technology leaders demonstrating new technologies and introducing innovative solutions.
Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhu also launched a very significant website on green initiatives of Indian Railways with the URL www.irgreenri.gov.in. This website will provide information to Railway employees, scholars, researchers, industries and passengers about initiatives taken by Indian Railways for moving to Green Technology and also will give new thoughts and innovative ideas for using non-conventional source of energy in Indian Railways. The Indian Railways Green Energy Initiative website “www.irgreenri.gov.in” will give a glimpse of Indian Railways efforts towards making Greener Environment Healthier Mother Earth and Cleaner Planet. This is a landmark development & is first of its type by any other energy intensive department of Government of India (GoI). This site has been developed by CRIS in consultation with Electrical Energy Management directorate of Ministry of Railway. This is a very informative website and will immensely helpful in promoting image of Greener Mode of Transport i.e. Railways and will also be helpful in achieving the ultimate objective of improving Energy Efficiency System on Indian Railways by 15% as per “Vision 2020”. This is just a beginning & lot will be done in the coming days to further this website. This will in the coming days become a major source of information on GREEN initiatives by Indian Railways.
Large number of delegates from all over the world including key experts from the rail sector, rail operators, rail infrastructure management companies, energy efficiency solution providers and energy-efficient technology suppliers are expected to attend this day long summit.
On the sidelines of the event, new technologies and innovative solutions to improve energy efficiency in the Rail sector has been showcased as an exhibition by technology leaders. This endeavour has also been supported by Institution of Railway Electrical Engineers (IREE), a professional body of Railway Electrical Engineers.
This summit is facilitating dissemination of information on important advances made in design and delivery of electric traction technologies and other solutions in Rail sector. During the event, research work of experts from the field of energy efficiency are being presented.
The Summit has provided a platform for policy makers, manufacturers, researchers and other stakeholders to discuss potential energy efficiency solutions and technologies for reducing IR’s carbon footprint.