Indian Railway to be Net-Zero railway by 2030: Railway Minister

"We are investing in 20 GW solar energy generation which will make Indian Railways effectively a Net Zero railway by 2030," Goyal said, speaking at the 8th World Energy Policy Summit.

Indian Railways will be the first large railways in the world to be a net-zero emission railway after the the installation of solar power, he added.

This move will also give a message to the large railways in the world like the US, China, Russia and Europe to be a Net Zero railway through electrification and renewable energy.

"Net zero" refers to achieving an overall balance between emissions produced and emissions taken out of the atmosphere.

Until the battery storage becomes more efficient and the batteries become low weight the excess solar energy will have to be fed into the grid for night-time use, Goyal said.

In the bid to reduce carbon footprint, India plans to electrify its entire rail network in the next four to five years.

"India is rapidly moving towards complete electrification and in the the next four to five years, we expect to complete the elctrification of the entire rail network," the minster said.

Currently, arround 55 per cent of the railway network is using electricity, he said.

With 1,25,000 km of railway tracks, Indian Railways will be the largest electrified railway network in the world, he said.