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Showing posts with label Solar Policy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Solar Policy. Show all posts

Monday, 7 March 2016

18:34

MOSR:Policy on Solar Capacity Panels in Indian Railways

MOSR:Policy on Solar Capacity Panels in Indian Railways

New Delhi: Indian Railways have finalized a policy for harnessing solar energy on rooftops of Railway premises.

The policy provides for setting up solar power plants through developer mode with a long term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) by Railways.

In order to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, it has been intended to expand sourcing of solar power as part of the Solar Mission of Indian Railways.

By generating electricity from solar panels, there will be proportionate reduction in consumption of fossil fuels.

As per the existing policy, rooftops of Railway premises including Railway Stations are planned to be utilized for setting up solar power panels.

As part of action plan for 2016-17, Zonal Railways have started the process of setting up of about 50 MW solar power plants.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Manoj Sinha in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on 04.03.2016 

 Source:Railnews
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Wednesday, 26 August 2015

09:23

NITI Aayog to launch India Energy Security Scenario- An Interactive Energy Platform on August 27,2015

NITI Aayog to launch India Energy Security Scenario- An Interactive Energy Platform on August 27,2015 

NITI Aayog has developed an energy scenario building tool-India Energy Security Scenarios (IESS) 2047. The tool aims to explore a range of potential future energy scenarios for India, for diverse energy demand and supply sectors leading up to 2047. It explores India’s possible energy scenarios across energy supply sectors such as solar, wind, bio fuels, oil, gas, coal and nuclear and energy demand sectors such as transport, industry, agriculture, cooking and lighting appliances. 

The model allows users to interactively make energy choices, and explore a range of outcomes for the country-from carbon dioxide emissions and imp[ort dependence to land use. The tool will be launched by the NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya and the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment and Forests, Shri Prakash Javadekar at a function at the Federation House, Tansen Marg, New Delhi ,3.30pm onwards on August 27,2015. 

Source :PIBNEWS.
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Tuesday, 4 August 2015

17:56

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu Inaugurates The One-Day Seminar on Solar Energy – Opportunities in Rail Sector

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu Inaugurates The One-Day Seminar on Solar Energy – Opportunities in Rail Sector 

The Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu inaugurated the one-day Seminar on “Solar Energy – opportunities in Rail Sector”.  This Seminar has been organized by Institution of Railway Electrical Engineers (IREE), Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and The Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) under the aegis of United Nations Development Programme – Global Environment Facility (UNDP-GEF). Chairman, Railway Board, Shri A. K. Mital, Member Electrical, Railway Board and Patron IREE, Shri Navin Tandon, Managing Director, DMRC Dr. Mangu Singh, Country Director, UNDP-India Shri Jaco Cilliers other Members of the Railway Board, Shri Sunil Goyal, Chief Electrical Engineer, Northern Railway and General Secretary, IREE, Senior Officials of Ministry of Railways were among those present on the occasion.
          
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Railway Shri Suresh Prabhu said that the fossile fuel which is the predominant source of energy has met the energy needs of the human beings in a big way. However, the extensive use of fossile fuel has been causing irreparable damage to eco system leading to climate change and global warming and hence global efforts are being made to work on alternative options and develop a suitable energy mix for meeting crucial energy needs. Shri Suresh Prabhu said that Railway is naturally a green mode of transport – we want to make it further greener by adopting renewal energy as a major source of energy for railways.  Indian Railways is the single biggest consumer of energy and hence it is imperative that Railways must look towards alternative sources of energy.  He pointed out that Indian Railways has targeted large scale harnessing of renewable energy, mainly solar and wind energy as well as adoption of energy efficient measures, to reduce electricity consumption.  The Minister said that it has already been announced in this year’s Railway Budget that Indian Railways will be setting up 1000 MW Solar Plants in next five years and the suitable initiatives for implementing this have been undertaken. Shri Suresh Prabhu said that Railways has already initiated the process of using rooftop of railway buildings for generating solar power. We have also taken innovative initiative for harnessing solar energy by putting solar panels on the roof of railway coaches. Such initiatives are to be taken forward and expanded to make game changer. We are considering developing solar power generation under PPP model.  He said there is a need to work on both solar voltaic cell and solar thermal way of generating solar energy.  There is also need for storage of technology.  The Minister said that Railway should take lead in reducing the carbon footprint and also work to earn more carbon credits. He hoped that the deliberations & presentations will help Railways to come out with a long term policy and road map for harnessing solar energy.
           
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman, Railway Board, Shri A.K. Mital said that the earth's climate is changing and such climatic change can have major impact on households, businesses, critical infrastructure such as transport, energy etc. We must, therefore, take measures to address the issue of climate change on priority. One of the ways to counter the menace of global warming would be to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As we are all aware, in the light of depletion of traditional sources of energy and increasing green house gases emission there is a greater need to focus on the use of renewable sources of energy. Therefore a paradigm shift to meet our energy need is a must, incorporating a judicial mix of power from conventional sources and from renewable technologies. Usage of renewable energy by Indian Railways will provide energy security to the organization. A good strategy would be to evolve its own supporting energy system, consisting of renewal energy sources. There are various renewable energy options for the Indian Railways such as power from wind and solar, and bio fuels.  Wind and solar energies can be the major players to meet Traction and non Traction power requirements of railways.
         
Speaking on the occasion, Member Electrical, Railway Board and Patron, IREE, Shri Navin Tandon said that the challenges before Indian Railway today in achieving the aim of using renewable energy resources include the following (a) There is a need to take up feasibility assessments (b) Identify appropriate technologies, (c) Streamline procedures for utilizing and engaging private sector (d) Develop financing models for large scale solar deployment in Indian Railways, (e) Need to have proper line of credit modality, option of concessional loan mechanism through IRFC/REMC/IREDA, (f) Building capacities,
Shri Tandon further said that the Indian Railways is fully geared up to take up the challenge of ‘Global Warming’. With policy support from the government, Indian Railways will surely bring about positive changes on the energy front and will be a lead organization showing a path of taking care of increasing energy requirement with reduced carbon foot prints and thereby providing solutions towards growth with sustainability. IR due to its wide visibility can act as catalyst in accelerating use of renewal energy across the country & thereby bringing large scale social and environmental changes.

Managing Director, DMRC Dr. Mangu Singh, Country Director, UNDP-India Shri Jaco Cilliers also spoke on the occasion.
Eminent personalities from renowned Institution of Railways, DMRC and Ministries are sharing their experience through their papers in the Seminar.  The seminar has been divided in three technical sessions namely (i) Solar energy – Issue & Option for Rail Sector (ii) Technological Developments & New Trends in Solar System & (iii) Financial & commercial sustainability  - Economic, social & environment aspects of Solar energy in Rail Sector.

More than 300 delegates all over India, Railways, Industries and & other PSUs and Institutions are participating in the seminar.

BACKGROUND BRIEF : -
Indian Railways consumes about 18 billion units of electrical energy per annum for its traction and non-traction applications. Indian Railways, in its endeavour to counter the menace of global warming has targeted large scale harnessing of renewable energy, mainly solar and wind energy, in addition to adoption of energy efficient technologies. Accordingly Hon’ble Minister for Railways in his budget speech had announced a target of installing 1000 mega watt solar power in Railways in next 5 years.

IR has already installed about 21 MW of solar and wind plants. In addition  provision of 10 KWp solar PV modules at 200 stations under various Zonal Railways, provision of 4.05 MWp solar photovoltaic (SPV) at roof top of 21 Railway office buildings and provision of total 1.3 MWp capacity solar photovoltaic plants at 2000 level crossing gates is in progress. Railways are providing Grid / off grid connected solar panels on the Divisional and Zonal headquarters, maintenance depots, sheds and workshops. In this direction Railway have set up a grid connected 1 MW solar power plant at Katra Railway station, which is second largest roof top plant in the country.  Further solar power systems at all major Railway stations and stations of Tourist importance have been planned. The generation of solar supply will help Railways supply power at remote locations and achieve saving on diesel consumption due to reduced running of diesel generators.

In addition Indian Railway had successfully commissioned a 10.5 MW Wind Mill which is supplying power to ICF, Chennai, and plans to take the total capacity of wind mills to more than 150 MW.

Normally for solar units availability of land is an issue; however IR has available land stretches & rooftop spaces on railway buildings, workshops, stations, residential building etc. In addition Railways, can also take up setting up solar power plants on wasteland, empty yards, alongside Railway Tracks, Railway coaches in due course of time.

Investments in solar energy are generally characterized by relatively high up-front capital and low operating costs accordingly there is a need for developing appropriate business models
This seminar can offer unique initiative which will build capacity, explore and identify best technologies, develop financing models for large scale solar deployment in Indian Railways.  
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Sunday, 21 June 2015

10:13

Indian Railways need $ 500 billion to modernise the Rail system: Suresh Prabhu

Bangalore: Minister of Railways Suresh Prabhu on Saturday said India would need to invest 450 to 500 billion dollars over the next 15 years for the railways to perform more efficiently and be the leading transport sector in India.

Delivering the inaugural lecture at the Foundation Day of the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) here, Prabhu said the Indian railways has a massive history of not getting any investment at all for decades. “Unlike China, India has just not made any investment in the railways. Investment is urgently required as railways would be environment-friendly and cost-effective. I have been here for six months and have begun positively by initiating and unlocking a lot of measures that will in three or four years’ time make the railways healthy and hopefully initiate the culture of investing in the railways,” Prabhu said.

The railways, he said, would be borrowing money to the tune of Rs 1,50,000 crore from LIC as the railways had no internal source of income other than freight and passenger fares and government budget. “Technology infusement and modernisation of the railways would be our focus now.

“Nearly 39 budget announcements have already been implemented. Customer preference policies are being introduced and a massive information technology dose would be administered to the railways,” he said.

E-catering has been announced and customers can get the food they want by booking on e-catering which enables one to order for private food. Also, base kitchens are being developed to serve quality and healthy food. The railways would be able to provide quality food in its normal kitchens provided people pay the actual price of the product.

Other measures to modernise railways are: mechanised laundries to maintain fresh linen, redesign of coaches, unlocking the land value of railways in partnership with private sector (PPP mode), implementation of recommendations of the Ratan Tata-led committee on railway modernisation, implementation of e-tendering process, an IT vision for railways, audit of energy, water, implementation of solar energy for railways and achieving carbon footprint.

The minister said if the idea of India as a unified country must succeed, its population needs to be integrated. “We will have to manage a population of 1.6 to 1.8 billion up from the current 1.25 billion.”

“To carry this load is not possible without logistics, particularly transportation. And railways is one of the answers, which now carries annually three million people. So the potential exists and there’s a huge market, Prabhu pointed out.

New station building

The minister inaugurated a new station building at the Bengaluru City station that would serve as the second entry from its Okalipuram entrance.

Built at a cost of Rs. 5.5 crore, it will house nine ticket counters, parking space in the basement and toilets, a cloak room, an AC lounge.

The building will also have a food court and fast food counters very soon. Suresh Prabhu also inaugurated new station building at KR Puram along with and foot-over bridges at Koppal, Almatti, and Alnavar and staff quarters at Hubballi by remote.

Prabhu pointed out the need for an alternative satellite terminal for the purpose of decongestant of the City.
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Thursday, 11 June 2015

22:00

Indian Railways begins trials of solar powered trains

Solar Impulse craft inspires solar train for Indian Railways

India may soon be able showcase to the world a solar train, which uses a mix of thermal power and solar energy generated from panels on its roof.

 Science and technology minister Harsh Vardhan said he was inspired by Switzerland’s Solar Impulse project. “I got the inspiration when the Solar Impulse, the Swiss long range experimental solar powered aircraft landed in India,” he said.

 The minister described the project as the government’s bid to have a moving solar power plant. “We are looking into the project plan and once the demos are done we will collaborate with other concerned ministries,” he said.

 To start with, the government will do a pilot on a goods train and if successful it will be replicated to other trains.

 The train will meet 15% of the energy requirement when on the move from the solar energy. National solar energy expert tasked with engineering the project Gon Chaudhuri told HT, “A unique feature would be that when the train is stationary, 100% of the power will be exported to the grid. So it is like a mobile solar power plant”. 

 When the solar radiation falls on a solar cell, direct current is generated which gets converted into an alternating current with a high efficient inverter. This is then synchronised with the grid. Since the train will be moving less dust will accumulate on the panels — a factor that reduces efficiency of solar rooftop systems, Chaudhuri explained.

 An average train would be able to generate 150kWh of power resulting in substantial revenue generation for the train operator.  “This would be the first such initiative when a standing body is generating electricity and pushing it to the grid,” Chaudhuri said. “On a long run solar planes may not be commercially viable. But the solar trains have ample scope.”

 Generating power from renewable energy is high on the Narendra Modi government’s agenda, with solar generation target for next eight years hiked by five times to 100 Gegawatts. Of this, the generation capacity for 40,000 MW will be from roof-tops. The solar train, with its rooftop solar generation, could help the government achieve its goals in the green energy sector.

 Source :Hindustan Times.
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