Indian
Railways achieves a major landmark in the field of Eco friendly fuel
technologies at Indian Railways Organization for Alternate Fuel (IROAF) which
has been awarded the coveted National level “Golden Peacock Award for the
Year 2017 for Eco-Innovation” for substitution of fossil fuels (Diesel) by
environment friendly CNG in DEMU passenger train services. Use of CNG in
Train Sets for passenger transportation has been done for the first time in
the world. The CNG based dual fuel 1400 HP engine used in DEMU trains
developed by IROAF has successfully substituted diesel fuel with CNG upto
20%. This innovation will reduce emissions considerably by bringing down NOx
by 16%, CO2 by 6% and Particulate Matter by 18% besides achieving
economy in fuel cost by 8%. So far, 19 Engines of DEMUs have been
successfully converted into CNG based dual fuel engines with this Technology.
Minister
of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu has congratulated the members of
IROAF over this achievement. He said that the clean fuels are the need of an
hour. Indian Railways should strive hard to cut down emission levels.
Golden Peacock Awards, instituted by the Institute Of Directors
(IOD), India in 1991, are now regarded as a benchmark of Corporate Excellence
Worldwide. Golden Peacock awards have become a hallmark of excellence, both
locally & globally. Based on internationally recognised criteria, the
credibility of these awards lies in the transparency depth & impartiality
of the assessment process.
Present
technology of 20% substitution of diesel by CNG, has potential to save upto
Rs. 1360 crores annually if implemented over entire fleet of Diesel
Locomotives of Indian Railways. An improved technology of 40% substitution is
at present being developed by IROAF. This will enhance the potential of
saving of fuel cost of IR to about Rs. 3400 crore per annum. The
environmental benefits will also double with this improved approach, if
successful.
IROAF
is a unique organization in the Government space which was established by
Ministry of Railways to explore new environment friendly fuels/ renewable
energy and eco- friendly technologies like substitution of diesel with
CNG/LNG in train sets, replacing acetylene/LPG by CNG/LNG for metal cutting
in Railway Workshops, proliferating and promoting use of Bio-Diesel in
Railway Locomotives, roof top solar generation systems in Railway Workshops,
use of solar energy on roof top of passenger and freight trains, setting up
of waste to energy plants for converting Bio-Waste into Bio gas/electrical
energy, Hydrogen based fuel cell technologies, Geo-Thermal Technologies and
converting waste/bio mass to fuel. The organization is a premier single
window agency of Indian Railways to work as a knowledge base and explore and
prove out new fuels and technologies for Indian Railways with a view to being
down Indian Railways fuel bill and at the same time achieve a shift towards
greener fuels / renewable energy sources for a sustainable future.
