Indian Railways Organization for Alternative Fuels (IROAF)

Subject – Infrastructure

Context – Railway Board order announces closure of green fuel wing.

Concept –

IROAF is a separate enterprise that works in the field of green fuels for transport.
Its vision – to emerge as a world class organisation in setting standards, development, research and execution in fuel and energy efficient and eco-friendly technologies, primarily for assimilation in IR.
The Ministry of Railways has announced the closure of the Indian Railways Organisation for Alternative Fuels (IROAF), an enterprise headquartered in New Delhi, that was formed exclusively to promote green energy by introducing alternative energy and fuel-efficient and emission ¬control technologies across the railway network.
The existing work handled by IROAF — solar power and hydrogen fuel cell projects — was transferred to the Principal Chief Electrical Engineer and Chief Administrative Officer, Northern Railway.
In keeping with its mission towards green railways, the IROAF had invited bids just last month in August for hydrogen fuel cell¬-based trains to start the concept of hydrogen mobility in the country along the 89¬km Sonipat-Jind sector of Northern Railway. Two diesel electric multiple units and two hybrid locos were planned for conversion to hydrogen fuel cell power movement leading to a savings of ₹2.3 crore annually.
The IROAF was also working on research and development of projects relating to use of compressed natural gas (CNG) as a substitute to high-speed diesel to create a clean environment and reduce cost of transportation