Eastern Railway to Adopt Solar Power to Reduce Dependence on Non Renewable Energy

Eastern Railway has identified a potential of generating 10.17 MWp of solar power and reduce its dependence on non renewable energy.

Eastern Railway has embarked on a mission to harness solar power, a renewable source of energy in perpetuity and thus reduce its dependence on non renewable energy sources.

In step, it has identified a potential of generating 10.17 MWp of solar power. In a statement, ER said a couple of solar power plants in its jurisdiction have already been installed. This includes a 1x10 KWp plant at Asansol station building, 1x10 KWp plant at Malda DRM building, 2x10 KWp Grid Connected Solar Power Plant at Howrah station (New Complex), 2x50 KWp Grid connected Solar Power Plant at Howrah area and solar panels at 33 other stations with a generation capacity of 8379 Wp.

Besides, 251 manned LC Gates over Eastern Railway are electrified with Solar Panels, Solar Water Geysers installed at 51 locations including Railway stations, Railway Hospitals, Running Room & Training Institutes over ER jurisdiction with a total capacity of 33900 litre per day resulting in energy savings of 24408 units in 2016-17. Together these units have helped in reducing the carbon foot print vis-à-vis saving in cost of energy consumption.

Additionally, Eastern Railway said it is also taking initiatives for more utilization of solar power. Provision of solar panels at 20 wayside stations of Asansol Division, 30 locations in Sealdah division and installation of 5 KWp solar power plant with provision of LED indoor & outdoor lighting at stations across Malda division are on the anvil.

Source: ET