NFR will be generating an additional 3,000 Kwp of solar power by the end of this financial year. Many other projects are on hand in NFR to augment the solar power generation capacity. Once completed, these projects will generate clean & green electricity with savings of about Rs. 4.73 crore from annual conventional energy bills.
Guwahati station became the first railway station in Northeast to be fully powered with grid-connected Solar Power with commissioning of a 700 KWp solar plant in the year 2017.
Already, roof-mounted solar panels in various offices, station buildings; level crossing gates in the NFR area are generating about 2718 KWp of Solar Power which enabled savings of more than Rs. 2.22 crore from annual conventional energy bills.
Although Railway is one of the least polluting means of transportation, the Indian Railway is fully aware of its responsibilities for a positive contribution to preserving the environment for our future generation. In that direction, the Indian Railway has taken a conscious decision to reduce its carbon footprint by reducing energy consumption which is produced by using fossil fuel.
A new dawn ushers on Indian Railways as it endeavours to be self-reliant for its energy needs as directed by the Prime Minister and solarise railway stations by utilizing its vacant lands for Renewable Energy (RE) projects. The Railway is committed to utilize solar energy for meeting its traction power requirements and become a complete ‘Green mode of transportation’.
The Ministry of Railways has decided to install solar power plants on its vacant unused lands on mega-scale. The use of solar power will accelerate the mission to achieve the conversion of Indian Railways to ‘Net Zero’ Carbon Emission Railway.
Indian Railways present demand would be fulfilled by the solar projects being deployed, making it the first transport organisation to be energy self-sufficient. This would help in making Indian Railways green as well as ‘Atma Nirbhar’.
Indian Railways has acted as a pioneer in green energy procurement. It has started energy procurement from various solar projects like 3 MWp solar plant set up at MCF Raebareilly (UP). About 100 MWp rooftop solar systems have already been commissioned on various stations and buildings of Indian Railways.
Besides, one project of 1.7 MWp at Bina (Madhya Pradesh) which will be connected directly to Overhead Traction System has already been installed and is presently under extensive testing. It is likely to be commissioned within 15 days. This is the first of its kind project in the world commissioned by Indian Railways in collaboration with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL).
Railway Energy Management Company Ltd. (REMCL) is working relentlessly to further spread the use of solar energy on mega scale. It has already floated the tenders for 2 GW of solar projects for Indian Railways to be installed on unutilised railway lands.
Indian Railways is also adopting an innovative concept of installation of solar projects along operational railway lines. This will help in preventing encroachment, enhancing the speed and safety of trains and reduction of infrastructure costs due to direct injection of solar power into the traction network. Another tender for installation of 1 GW solar plants along Railway tracks is also planned to be released soon by REMCL.
With these mega initiatives, Indian Railways is leading India’s fight against climate challenge and is taking significant steps towards meeting its ambitious goal of being a net-zero carbon emissions organisation and meeting India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) targets.