NCR Expands Solar Energy Output to 13.3 Million Units Across India

The North Central Railway (NCR) has significantly strengthened its renewable energy efforts by generating 133 lakh units (13.3 million units) of solar power during the financial year 2025–26. This achievement reflects the growing integration of clean energy within India’s railway infrastructure, one of the largest public transport networks in the country.

The solar power generation comes from installations across railway premises, including station rooftops, service buildings, and other railway-owned land. These installations are part of a broader push by Indian Railways to reduce dependence on conventional energy sources and lower carbon emissions.

By expanding solar capacity, NCR is not only cutting electricity costs but also contributing to India’s national climate goals. The initiative aligns with the government’s focus on increasing the share of renewable energy and transitioning toward more sustainable infrastructure.

Officials highlighted that such projects play a key role in improving energy efficiency while supporting environmentally responsible operations. The move also demonstrates how public sector organizations can actively participate in the country’s clean energy transition.

Overall, the development marks a positive step toward greener transportation systems and reinforces the role of government-led initiatives in advancing sustainability in India.

13.3 million units of solar generation from railway-owned infrastructure demonstrates that public-sector transport organizations can meaningfully contribute to renewable-capacity expansion by utilising existing land, buildings and infrastructure. Station rooftops, service buildings and railway land typically remain underutilised for revenue generation - solar deployment creates value from existing assets.

Indian Railways' wider renewable programme combined with electrification and energy-efficiency initiatives positions the network to substantially reduce operating emissions and costs over time. Given railway's fundamental role in Indian transport, sustainability progress in the sector has substantial multiplier effect across the broader economy.

For public-sector transport operators, renewable developers, financial institutions and their partnership stakeholders, Cognitud's climate action, energy transition and impact assessment teams help clients evaluate transport-sector renewable investment opportunities, structure long-term commercial arrangements aligned with public-sector priorities, and prepare disclosures aligned with BRSR, ISSB and jurisdictional sustainable-transport frameworks that increasingly determine access to sustainable-finance for large-scale infrastructure investment.