Indian Railways Advances Towards Net-Zero with Historic Renewable Energy Agreement

Bhopal– At the Global Investors Summit 2025 in Bhopal, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reaffirmed Indian Railways’ commitment to achieving 100% electrification and transitioning to renewable energy sources. Addressing investors and stakeholders via video conferencing from Rail Bhawan, he emphasized the government’s goal of making Indian Railways a net-zero carbon emitter by 2030.

A major step in this direction was taken today with the signing of a 170 MW Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between Indian Railways and the Madhya Pradesh government, marking the procurement of India’s cheapest solar energy at ₹2.15/kWh. This initiative is part of a larger renewable energy strategy, with Indian Railways already securing 4,260 MW of solar and 3,427 MW of wind power.

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Strengthening Renewable Energy Commitments

Indian Railways has been actively increasing its reliance on non-fossil energy sources, working towards meeting its growing power needs through solar, wind, and nuclear energy. As part of this approach:

• The Indian government has set a goal of 100% railway electrification by 2025-26.
• The rail network has already secured 1,500 MW of renewable energy and continues expanding partnerships.
• The latest agreement with Madhya Pradesh’s Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Power Limited (RUMSL) will enhance solar power supply to Indian Railways from the state’s largest solar park.
  

Nationwide Collaboration in Green Energy

Encouraging all states to collaborate, Shri Vaishnaw urged them to contribute renewable energy—whether solar, wind, hydro, or nuclear—to Indian Railways. He highlighted Madhya Pradesh as a model state, successfully facilitating direct PPA agreements for railway energy needs.

Record-Breaking Budget Allocation for Railway Infrastructure

In addition to green energy initiatives, the Railway Minister announced a historic ₹14,745 crore allocation for Madhya Pradesh’s railway development in FY 2025-26—the highest-ever budgetary support for the state. Railway track laying has also witnessed a 7.5x increase, rising from 29 km per year (pre-2014) to 230 km per year.

Overview of the Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Power Limited (RUMSL)

RUMSL, a joint venture of Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (MPUVNL), is spearheading large-scale solar energy production under the Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Projects (UMREPP) scheme. The initiative has not only increased India’s solar power capacity by 2.5% but also set benchmarks in affordable clean energy, achieving the lowest-ever tariff in a public-private partnership at ₹2.97/kWh.

With sustainable energy at the core of its expansion plans, Indian Railways is making rapid strides towards achieving net-zero emissions, ensuring a greener, more energy-efficient future for India’s transportation network.