Indian Railways has planned to source about 1000 MegaWatt (MW) Solar Power and about 200 MW of wind power progressively by 2021-22 across Zonal Railways & Production Units. Of this, 500 Mega Watt (MW) solar plants are being installed on the rooftop of Railway buildings which will be used to meet non-traction loads at Railway Stations, etc. About 500 MW land based solar plants will be used to meet both traction & non-traction requirements.
- South Western Railway is one of the zones which has taken giant strides aimed at energy conservation by harnessing solar energy.
- One of the significant actions taken in this direction has been the installation of solar panels at stations, service buildings, LC gates etc across the zone.
- This will not only help in meeting power needs of all the stations but also save expenditure for the Railways.
- The Zone has provided 4.37 MWp plants on developer (Renewable Energy Supply Co) mode and also 165 kWp solar plant through the Zone.
- These solar plants are provided at 128 stations roof top (Major Stations-Hubballi, KSR Bengaluru, Mysuru, Yesvantpur, Hosapete, Gadag & Ballari) and 07 service buildings (Rail Soudha” West & Central Wing , Divisional Railway Manager’s Office-Hubballi, Railway Hosapete-Hubballi, Divisional Railway Manager’s Office-Bengaluru, Parcel Office Bengaluru, Railway Hosapete-Bengaluru, Divisional Railway Manager’s Office – Mysuru).
- The Workshops and Sheds have also been provided with Solar Rooftop plants.
- In addition, 221 level crossings are provided solar photo voltaic cell lights.
- The solar electricity generation in last year was 4.4 Million units which is expected to increase to the tune of 4.664 Million units this year subject to sunny days and insulation.
- This has resulted to saving in electricity bills to the tune of Rs. 1.78 Cr. last year and expected saving of Rs. 1.88 Cr. in this financial year.
- SWR is expanding its solar initiatives planned to go for land based solar plants at track side lands and also vacant Railway lands.
- Rail Energy Management Co. Ltd (A public sector unit of Ministry of Railway) has floated a tender for land based solar plants of 20 MWp in vacant land and 8.3 MWp on land besides track over South Western Railway.
- The land has been identified and advised to REMCL for further installation of 98 MWp plants.
Recent Solar Project:
In order to achieve its objective of becoming 100% self-sustainable for all it’s power needs and also to contribute to national solar power goals, Indian Railways has solarised more than 960 stations till date. Orders have been placed for 198 MW solar rooftop capacity for 550 stations which are under execution.
It may be noted that Indian Railways had recently organised a meet of leading solar power developers who had shared their expectations of being partners in the journey of Indian Railways to become “Net Zero Carbon Emitter” before 2030.
Indian Railways on the path of going green:
- Some of the Stations solarised are Varanasi, New Delhi, Old Delhi, Jaipur, Secunderabad, Kolkata, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Howrah etc.
- About 51,000 hectare vacant land available with Indian Railways and is now ready to extend all support to the developers for installing solar power plants on Railway’s vacant un-encroached land.
- It may be noted that Indian Railways is committed to utilize solar energy for meeting its traction power requirement and become a complete ‘Green mode of transportation’.
- This is in line with the recent directive of Hon’ble Prime Minister to solarise railway stations and utilize vacant railway land for Renewable Energy (RE) projects.
- The use of solar power will accelerate the Railways’ mission to achieve the goal of becoming ‘Net Zero Carbon Emission Railway’.
- In order to achieve this, Indian Railways has developed a mega plan for installing solar plants of 20 GW capacity by utilizing its vacant land by 2030.
- In this regard, to begin with, bids for 3 GW solar projects on vacant Railway land parcels and land parcels along the railway track have already been invited by Railway Energy Management Company Ltd. (REMCL), a PSU of Indian Railways.
- These solar projects, besides supplying power to Railways at reduced tariff, will also protect the Railway land by construction of boundary wall along the track.
- It will also contribute towards the National Solar Mission, an initiative of the Government of India to promote solar power.
Source: South Western Railway-Press Release
