(ET)
Indian Railways is expected to step up its renewable energy initiatives under new minister Piyush Goyal who was earlier heading the ministry of new and renewable energy. Railways has an ambitious target to source 25% of its energy requirement from renewable energy sources by 2025 by setting up 5,000 mw of capacity, and solar and wind energy companies are hopeful that Goyal would push for scaling up the target and expanding the scope of the plan.
“The new railway minister is expected to carry his passion for renewable energy to the ministry and the railways will benefit immensely,” said Vinayak Chatterjee, chairman at infrastructure service provider Feedback Infra. “Railway stations, tracks and land owned by them have potential to develop solar power which is abundantly available on most sites and reduce their dependence on external sources,” he told ET.
