Delhi Metro Invites Bids to Source 500 Million Units of Renewable Energy Annually

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is poised to make a significant stride in its green energy journey, inviting bids to supply 500 million units of renewable electricity annually to power its operations. 

Currently, the DMRC meets a significant portion of its electricity needs through renewable sources. The Rewa Solar Park in Madhya Pradesh supplies about 350 million units each year, while rooftop solar installations across stations, depots, and staff colonies add another 40 million units. This enables the metro to run with around 33 percent of its total annual power coming from clean energy sources, a figure that rises to nearly 65 percent during daytime hours.

New Captive Solar and Storage Project

The new bidding process will select a solar energy developer to set up a grid-connected captive generating plant and battery energy storage system (BESS) anywhere in India. 

The project aims to push the proportion of renewable electricity in Delhi Metro’s energy mix to over 60 percent, making it the highest in India.

Once implemented, the initiative will significantly cut the metro’s carbon footprint, aiming to position it as a model for environmentally sustainable mass urban transit.

“This initiative is a major step towards the vision of providing a clean, sustainable, and world-class public transportation system to Delhi-NCR. Our goal is to ensure that metro operations are beneficial not only for passengers but also for the environment,” said Anuj Dayal, Principal Executive Director of DMRC.

Many metro stations in India are designed with energy-efficient technologies and employ solar power systems, which help reduce energy consumption. Apart from solar power integration pioneered by DMRC, others are also following sustainable practices. Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, and Pune, metro rail systems have received Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) Certification for their commitment to sustainable designs and the use of green materials to further minimise their environmental impact.