Delhi metro system wins solar power award

The metro system in New Delhi has been recognised with a prestigious award by India’s central government for using solar power at its stations.

The Indian Ministry of New & Renewable Energy awarded the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for being one of the leading public sector entities in adopting renewable energy.

Union Minister of State for Power Piyush Goyal gave the award to DMRC officials at a ceremony held in Bengaluru on 27 August.

The DMRC has installed rooftop solar systems at a number of its stations across the capital, which have a combined installed capacity of about 2.8 megawatts.

The DMRC is planning to increase the rooftop solar power capacity of its stations to 50 megawatts across its wide network of stations in and around the National Capital Region of Delhi and is also aiming for renewables to eventually cover 100 per cent of its energy needs.

The clean energy targets are designed to reduce costs for the DMRC which is categorised as a non-domestic and non-residential consumer and therefore pays a significantly higher tariff for electricity consumption.

The peak power demand of the DMRC is approximately 150 megawatts, which is expected to increase to 250 MW as the DMRC expands its rail network beyond the boundaries of Delhi and into the neighbouring regions and the corporation is looking to acquire electricity from large-scale solar power projects to meet its targets.

DMRC is reportedly looking to sign a long-term power purchase agreement with a large solar power project in north-western state of Rajasthan which is rich in land as well as solar power resource.

Nine new solar power generation facilities have been installed across the Delhi Metro system on the Badarpur-Faridabad section of the network and are used for lighting and other auxiliary requirements of the stations and depot buildings.

The plants have been set up at NHPC Chowk, Mewala Maharajpur, Sector 28, Badkal Mor, Old Faridabad, Neelam Chowk Ajronda, Bata Chowk, Escorts Mujesar stations and Ajronda Depot.

In a statement, DMRC said: “The power Receiving Sub Station (RSS) of the Faridabad corridor has already been developed as a green building with a 50 kWp solar plant, rain water harvesting and constructed wet land type of sewage treatment plant facilities.”