27 Delhi Metro Stations Ready for Solar Plants in Phase IV

27 DMRC stations ready for solar plants

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is constructing  27 elevated metro stations under Phase IV to place solar plants in near future. Spaces will also be reserved for inverters, panels and other necessary solar equipment.

Following the construction of the stations, rooftop solar plants would be set up depending on their alignment and exposure to sunlight, said a DMRC official.

In Metro Phase IV, the target is to set up 10 MW solar plants at the  metro stations, which is estimated to generate about 1 crore units of solar energy per year. Further, in Phase IV, close to 21.8 crore units of additional electricity will be required per year.

Under Phase IV, the  three priority corridors are Janakpuri West-RK Ashram (Magenta Line), Majlis Park-Maujpur (Pink Line) and Aerocity–Tughlaqabad (Silver Line).

Presently, Delhi Metro receives 35% of its cumulative supply of energy from renewable sources. This is to be further augmented to 50% by 2031, revealed DMRC officials. Out of the total 35% green energy, around 30% energy comes from offsite share (solar energy from Rewa Solar Plant in Madhya Pradesh), 4% from rooftop solar plants and 1% from waste-to-energy plant in Ghazipur. Out of the total power demand of 270 MW, DMRC incurs 30% of its operational cost on electricity demand.

Vivek Agarwal, Executive Director Planning, DMRC, while speaking at UITP India Urban Rail Seminar 2023 at Metro Bhawan, said, “Though DMRC has no obligation to use renewable sources, we are using green energy for our commitment to the environment. DMRC explored solar energy to reduce carbon footprints and take benefit of lower tariff from solar.”

In Metro Phase III, the DMRC had entered into an agreement with RUMSL (Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited), a joint venture between Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (MPUVN), to power its metro trains with green power.