Chennai Metro Rail uses solar power for 22% of its non-train electricity needs

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Chennai Metro Rail has saved ₹5.6 crore connected yearly energy charges, arsenic astir 22% of its non-train energy needs are covered by star powerfulness crossed the 54 km Phase-I and Phase-I hold network.

Chennai Metro Rail has installed 10.77 Mega watt highest (MWp) of star powerfulness successful the 54 km web successful 36 locations beryllium it car parking spaces, stabling sheds and bid sheds successful Koyambedu, and the rooftops of stations including Ashok Nagar, Alandur, Thirumangalam, Anna Nagar, Shenoy Nagar, Nehru Park, Egmore, Meenambakkam, Vadapalani, Arumbakkam, Tiruvottiyur, Wimco Nagar depot, Ekkatuthangal, Toll Gate, Mannadi and Kaladipet.

According to officials of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), a full of 4 lakh kilowatt hours (kWh) is the vigor request per time for the 54 km network. Of this, CMRL has been capable to make 51,000 kWh done the installed star powerfulness plants daily. 

“We person 2 types of vigor consumption—traction and non-traction power. While traction powerfulness is utilised by trains, assorted systems successful stations and our bureau buildings utilise non-traction power. Solar powerfulness generated is predominantly utilized for moving air-conditioning, elevators, escalators, different auxiliary systems, depot facilities and lighting successful stations and bureau buildings. It is not imaginable to devour star powerfulness for operating trains (that uses traction power) arsenic they necessitate a precocious measurement of powerfulness for acceleration, and we person to run astir 40-45 trains. But we person regenerative braking successful trains that assistance retrieve 34% of the vigor during braking,” an authoritative said.

There is an mean savings of ₹3 per unit, and hence, star powerfulness installations supply an estimated yearly savings of astir ₹5.6 crore a year, different authoritative said. There are plans to instal different 2 MWp for the Phase-I web and different 10 MWp star powerfulness works successful Corridor 4 of the Phase-II network.

“There exists a batch of imaginable to instal much panels. We person plentifulness of abstraction disposable successful the existing stations of the Phase-I web and the task should beryllium expanded soon, truthful that it helps successful cutting down expenditure,” helium added.