Rooftop Solar Systems to Save NMRC Over Rs 4 Cr Annually

Chennai Metro Rail Ltd Issues Tender for Parking Solar Project of 3 MWp

NMRC is in the process of installing rooftop solar panels at its all its stations to offset its power consumption by generating solar power.

The Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC), which launched its 21-station network in January this year, is in the process of installing rooftop solar panels at its all its stations and depot buildings to offset its power consumption by generating solar power. According to an official, through the power generated by the solar systems, the rail corporation expects to save approximately Rs 4.37 crore annually.

Currently, the NMRC is purchasing power from the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) at Rs 6.81 per unit to meet its daily requirements. The cost per unit, once the energy is derived from the solar panels, will be Rs 3.25 per unit, which will result in a direct saving of Rs 3.56 per unit, the officials said.

“The estimated annual power generation expected by NMRC through solar panels is 1,22,89,754 kWh. The estimated solar capacity of the panels to be installed in the entire network, including the depot, is around 10.021 MWp out of which around 6.811 MWp will be from all 21 stations and 2.5 MWp will be from the depot,” NMRC Executive Director P D Upadhyay said.

“The power generated from solar panels will meet all basic power requirements of the NMRC stations and depots. All generated power may not be consumed. The extra power will revert back to the grid instead of getting wasted,” he said. “The saved solar power in the grid, combined with the power from the sub-stations, may be used for the traction power supply.”

The NMRC said it had already installed solar panels at nine of its 21 stations and had energised five stations — Noida Sectors 50, 51, 76, Knowledge Park-II and Pari Chowk. Apart from these, solar panels will be installed at the depot located in Greater Noida, the sub-station buildings of the depot and the parking lot of the staff quarters situated inside the depot premises by September this year.

Built at Rs 5,503 crore, the Aqua Line connects twin cities of Noida and Greater Noida in western Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Buddh Nagar, covering a distance of 29.7 km via the 21 metro stations.