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226 Economic Survey 2021-22

Box 2: Major Initiatives and Achievements

India has announced the National Hydrogen Mission for generating hydrogen from green energy
sources. Through technological advancements, hydrogen is being blended with CNG for use as
transportation fuel as well as an industrial input to refineries.
On June 5, 2021, the Hon’ble Prime Minister announced 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol
by 2025. The ambitious target, which brings forward the blending target from 2030 to 2025, is a
key element of the economy-wide energy transformation. As of September 2021, the country has
already reached 8.5 per cent ethanol blending and is on track to achieve the 20 per cent target by
2025. Considerable benefits can accrue to the country by ethanol blending, such as saving USD 4
billion foreign exchange per year in imports, enhancing energy security, lowering carbon emissions,
improving air quality, promoting productive use of damaged food grains and waste, increasing
farmers’ incomes, creating employment and investment opportunities. The Government is expecting
an investment of up to USD 5,541 million to help India achieve its ethanol blending target of 10 per
cent by 2022 and 20 per cent by 2025.

Indian Railways has set a target of Net Zero Carbon Emission by 2030, primarily through sourcing its
energy requirements through renewable energy sources. Major initiatives undertaken for reduction of
carbon emissions include 100 per cent electrification of its network by December 2023, use of three
phase technology for regenerative braking, “head on generation” technology eliminating the need
for separate diesel fuelled power cars, use of renewable energy source (133.26 MW solar and 103
MW wind installed capacity), provisioning of LED lights at all railway installations, and creation of
additional carbon sink by afforestation. Figure below shows the expected CO2 emission reduction by
Indian Railways through use of renewable energy.
Expected CO2 emissions reduction by Indian Railways through use of renewable energy

70 49 55 60
CO2 emission in million tonnes 50 23 25 Baseline CO emissions 36 CO emissions reduction
60

2
42
40
30
26
25
30
2
20
24
24
21
19
10
0 23 Post implementation CO2 emissions 14 11 11 6 6
2019-20 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 2026-27 2027-28 2028-29 2029-30

Source: Ministry of Railways

India has launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM)
Scheme to provide energy and water security, de-dieselise the farm sector and generate additional
income for farmers by producing solar power. The scheme aims to add 30.8 GW of solar capacity
with central financial support of over ` 34,000 Crore. It has three components – (a) installation of