Kalka Shimla hydrogen-powered railway: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has officially requested the Union Ministry of Railways, led by Ashwini Vaishnaw, to explore the potential for converting the historic Kalka-Shimla UNESCO World Heritage train to run on green hydrogen. In a letter addressed to the minister, Sukhu emphasized the state’s commitment to transforming the rail line into a green energy-powered route as part of its broader goal to become a certified Green Energy State by March 31, 2026.
Strategic Transition Towards Renewable Energy
The Chief Minister outlined a six-pronged strategy aimed at achieving significant contributions to India’s climate commitments, aligning with the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This strategic transition is designed to promote sustainable energy practices while bolstering the state’s economy. Currently, Himachal Pradesh consumes 13,500 million units (MUs) of power, with plans to replace its thermal power consumption of 1,500 MUs with renewable sources such as hydro, solar, and wind energy.
Doubling Down on Solar Power Initiatives
Sukhu highlighted that the state has already made substantial progress in renewable energy consumption, aiming for 90 percent reliance on renewable sources in its power distribution network. This achievement is expected to position Himachal Pradesh as a fully certified Green State within a year. The government is also laying a strong emphasis on solar power generation, targeting an additional capacity of 2,000 MW over the next four to five years, which has already seen a doubling of solar output in the past two years.
Innovative Renewable Energy Schemes
As part of its renewable energy initiatives, the state has launched the ‘Green Panchayat’ scheme, establishing 500 KW grid-connected ground-mounted solar power plants at the Panchayat level. The revenue generated from the sale of this solar power will be allocated to eco-friendly and sustainable development projects.
Additionally, Himachal Pradesh is making strides in the production of ‘Green Hydrogen,’ with the first facility in collaboration with Oil India Limited (OIL) already underway. Discussions with private investors are ongoing to establish more such facilities.