Rapid Transition Case Studies: India and Vietnam

2/8/20231 min read

After India electrified over 5,000km of rail in 2 years, the Indian Railway Ministry announced it would power its network wholly by renewable electricity by 2023, and achieve net zero by 2030. In Vietnam, solar energy’s share of the nation’s electricity supply went from nearly 0% to more than 11% in 4 years.

India’s impetus for electrification can be attributed to internal pressures to slash fuel costs, and the external motivation to satisfy international climate objectives. Apart from public concern about air pollution, fuel savings and energy security were also drivers as Vietnam is a net energy importer.

With the massive size of the Indian Railways network – the world's second largest – and it being India’s largest electricity consumer, as well as a considerable user of diesel, rapid electrification promises drastic cuts in carbon emissions. Owing to population boom and economic growth, Vietnam experienced the greatest increase in electricity demand in Asia from 2010 to 2021. Rapid transitions such as the above can lead to sharp reductions in carbon emissions, curtailing further addition to atmospheric concentrations.

State ownership of Indian Railways facilitated their electrification ambitions. The Vietnamese government’s support also eased its transition into solar energy. These include upgrading the transmission network, inviting private investment into infrastructure, and offering attractive feed-in-tariffs.

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