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

Monday, 13 July 2020

16:54

Solar Projects Leads to' Net Zero'Carbon Emission Mass Transportation Network by 2030

Solar Projects Leads to' Net Zero'Carbon Emission Mass Transportation Network by 2030
No.165/29.06.2020
07-07-2020
Chennai
Indian Railways takes decisive steps to transform itself as ‘Net Zero’ Carbon Emission Mass Transportation Network by 2030
On a mission mode, Indian Railways takes decisive steps to transform itself as ‘Net Zero’ Carbon Emission Mass Transportation Network by 2030.
It has already floated tenders for 2 GW of solar projects for Indian Railways to be installed o­n unutilised railway lands.
Pilot project in Bina getting operationalised soon and under extensive testing and trial.
Mission Atma Nirbhar Bharat remains the driving force.
Solar Energy to make Indian Railways a complete ‘Green mode of transportation’.
A new dawn ushers o­n Indian Railways as it endeavors to be self-reliant for its energy needs as directed by the Prime Minister and solarise railway stations by utilizing its vacant lands for Renewable Energy (RE) projects. Railway is committed to utilize solar energy for meeting its traction power requirements and become a complete ‘Green mode of transportation’.
The Ministry of Railways has decided to install solar power plants o­n its vacant unused lands o­n mega scale.
The use of solar power will accelerate the Minister of Railways, Shri Piyush Goyal’s mission to achieve conversion of Indian Railways to ‘Net Zero’ Carbon Emission Railway.
Indian Railways present demand would be fulfilled by the solar projects being deployed, making it the first transport organisation to be energy self-sufficient. This would help in making Indian Railways green as well as ‘Atma Nirbhar’.
Indian Railways has acted as a pioneer in green energy procurement. It has started energy procurement from various solar projects like 3 MWp solar plant set up at MCF Raebareilly (UP). About 100 MWp rooftop solar systems have already been commissioned o­n various stations and buildings of Indian Railways.
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Friday, 14 July 2017

18:34

Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu inducts First DEMU Train with Solar powered Coaches into service of the Nation

Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu inducts First DEMU Train with Solar powered Coaches into service of the Nation 
Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu today (14 July 2017) dedicated to the nation the first 1600 HP DEMU train with Solar Powered Coaches with a unique facility of Battery Bank here today. The entire electrical need of the coaches for Lighting, Fans and Information Display System will be met from the Solar Energy produced from the solar panels fitted in the roofs of coaches. While this train has been manufactured by the Coach Factory of Indian Railways namely Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, its Solar panels and Solar systems have been developed and fitted by Indian Railways Organisation of Alternative Fuel (IROAF) Delhi. This first rake has been commissioned and based at Shakurbasti DEMU shed in Delhi of Northern Railway. Twenty-four more coaches will be fitted with this system within the next 6 months. The first rake will be put in the commercial service over the suburban railway system of Delhi division of Northern Railway.
On this occasion, Member Rolling Stock, Railway Board Shri Ravindra Gupta, General Manager Northern Railway Shri R.K Kulshreshtha, CAO of IROAF Shri Ravinder Gupta, CME Northern Railway Shri Arun Arora, CME IROAF Shri G.K Gupta, DRM Delhi Shri R.N Singh were among those present.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu said that “Indian Railways has taken a path breaking leap towards making Indian Railways’ trains greener and more environment friendly. Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has also been emphasising on use of green energy and Environment friendly measures. Indian Railways is committed for environment conservation & use of cleaner fuels. Indian Railways is trying to increase use of non-conventional sources of energy. More solar powered trains may be inducted in future.” Indian Railways has already made a target of 1000 MW Solar Plants in next five-years. Indian Railways is also taking several others environment friendly measures like Tea Plantation, Bio-toilet, Water-Recycling, Waste Disposal, using Bio-fuel CNG and LNG, Wind Energy etc.
Normally, DEMU trains provide power for its passenger comfort systems – lights and fans - from a diesel driven generator fitted on its Driving Power Car (DPC). IROAF has developed this system with a smart MPPT inverter which optimises power generation on a moving train to cater to full load even during the night. The unique feature of Battery Bank through storage battery ensures sufficient electricity when the sunlight is not available. The system helps in reducing Diesel consumption of the DPC and hence reduces carbon signature of these commuter trains by reducing CO2 generation by 9 Tonnes per coach per year.
A solar power DEMU train with six trailer coaches will save about 21,000 Litres of Diesel and thereby bring cost saving of Rs.12 Lac every year. Savings for a 10 coach rake with 8 trailer coaches will increase proportionately. These benefits will continue for entire 25 years life time of the rake. This will help in making DEMU commuter services better, more economical and environment friendly.
Solar hotel load (Lighting and Fan) system fitted on each coach is of 4.5 KWp capacity consisting of 16 Solar Panels of 300Wp each. This is adequate to power the fans and lights of the coach. The system is capable of developing up to 20 kWh per day (average) throughout the year. Surplus power generated during peak hours is stored in a 120 AH battery system. The system uses a data acquisition system and interfaces with existing hotel load power system of DEMU train. It will help in generating useful data for research for adapting the system for future rollout on all trains of IR. The system costs about Rs. 9 lakhs per coach at prototype stage.
Northern Railway launched the first DEMU service on Indian Railways in 1994. Today, NR has 3 DEMU sheds having highest DEMU holding on Indian Railways. Shakurbasti DEMU shed of Northern Railway has been a pioneer in the field of green powered DEMUs - CNG & Solar powered. The very first CNG fitted DEMUs were run by Shakurbasti. Now the first Solar panel powered DEMU train will also be maintained and operated by DEMU shed, Shakurbasti of Northern Railway. This pioneering effort makes a transition towards clean energy and reduction in the carbon emission.

Source:PIBNEWS
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Friday, 7 April 2017

08:34

Pakistan to soon set up world's largest solar park

Pakistan to soon set up world's largest solar park

Islamabad [Pakistan], Nov.30 : Pakistan will soon have the world's largest solar park of 1,000 megawatts, the country's Minister of Climate Change Zahid Hamid has said.

Addressing a press conference here, Hamid briefed them about Pakistan's participation in the COP22 Conference in Morocco recently, which provided an opportunity to highlight the significant achievements made by the country to address the impact of climate change, reports the Express Tribune.

Hamid said the world community was informed that Pakistan's contribution to global warming was minimal as "we emit less than one percent of the annual global greenhouse gas emissions. Yet we are ranked amongst the top 10 countries that are most vulnerable to climate change."

The world community was also informed that Pakistan faced several major risks pertaining to climate change, including glacier melting, variable monsoons, recurrent floods, rise in sea levels, higher average temperatures and higher frequency of droughts.

Millions of people had been affected and a colossal damage was caused on a recurring basis, he said.

"These threats pose major survival concerns for Pakistan, particularly in relation to water security, food security and energy security," Hamid said, adding these threats also had enormous adverse consequences for all socio-economic sectors, limiting the country's ability to promote sustainable growth and development.

The minister emphasised that Pakistan as a responsible member of the global community had taken substantial steps, especially during 2016, to tackle the threat of climate change.

He termed the launch of Rs2-billion Prime Minister's Green Pakistan Programme, which would be implemented across the country, as a historic initiative.

Pakistan has developed the National Sustainable Development Strategy and is perhaps the first country in the world whose National Assembly passed a unanimous resolution adopting the SDGs as its own national development agenda, said the minister. (ANI)

Source:TopNews

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Thursday, 6 October 2016

05:49

Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu inspects and Flags Off Newly Manufactured Solar Powered Guard Van of Goods (Freight) Train

Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu inspects and Flags Off Newly Manufactured Solar Powered Guard Van of Goods (Freight) Train 

For the First Time Equipped the Guard Vans will be equipped with Solar Powered Light, Fan, Mobile Charging Points 

Guard Vans also to have Zero Discharge Bio Toilets in place of Conventional Toilets in Line with the Swachh Bharat Initiatives of Indian Railways 

New Facilities in the Guard Van are Environment Friendly 

Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu inspected and flagged off the newly manufactured Guard Van of Goods (Freight) Train today, i.e. 05th October 2016 at Delhi Safdarjung Railway Station. The newly manufactured Guard Van of Goods Train (8 wheeled) has been equipped for the first time with Solar powered Light, Fan, Mobile Charging Point along with the facility of Zero discharge Bio Toilet. On this occasion, Member Rolling Stock, Railway Board Shri Hemant Kumar, Member Traffic, Railway Board Shri Mohammed Jamshed, Financial Commissioner Railways, Shri KV Nanda, were also present.

Speaking on the occasion Shri Suresh Prabhu has said that these facilities will improve the working conditions and functioning of the guards. He also said that powering Fans & Lights through Solar Panels will help in reducing the carbon footprint of Railways. He also said that Indian Railways will pursue to initiate more such initiatives. He further said that, Indian Railways has always kept in mind providing good working conditions to its workers and customers. He said that use of Solar energy is also an environment friendly measure and will help in energy saving. Shri Suresh Prabhu said that Indian Railways is also working to run fully solar powered trains.

Guards of freight trains have been working under difficult condition of absence of basic facilities of light & fan that too during heat of summers and darkness of night work.  Indian Railways has now attempted to address this shortcoming by providing light and fan arrangement in brake-vans which so far have been a distant dream of the Guards.

    The Guard vans (also called 8 wheeled Brake Vans Z- frame Improved BVZI) modified by IROAF with the assistance of Amritsar Workshop of Northern Railway are provided with a fan, a light and mobile charging facility which are supported by Solar Power generation at the rooftop.  Thus the power now being available for Guard comfort is environment friendly, as it does not generate any emission / pollution.  The Solar generation is supported with a battery bank to power the brake van facilities for more than 24 hours continuously even on a rainy day.  Thus it is expected to provide uninterrupted comfort of basic facilities to the Guard.

The system provided has the GPRS support which enables monitoring of the functioning of this system so that necessary maintenance inputs can be made available as and when needed to achieve uninterrupted service.

    In keeping with the country’s commitment to make India a ‘Swachh Bharat’, the Guard’s toilet has also been modified to a zero discharge bio toilet.  This design of bio-toilet results in no discharge of night soil on the track thus providing a hygienic surroundings in an around the Railway premises.  
   
Technical Features of Environment friendly  Guard Wagons (8 Wheeled)
(Solar powered light, fans & Charging facility with Zero discharge Bio-Toilet)
a.                     Solar PV Modules
No. of Solar PV Modules (Polycrystalline)    :    4 No  
Physical Dimensions                    :1151 mm x 666 mm x 35 mm
Power Output @ 100 Wp of each module    :     400 Wp
Rated Voltage                         :17.7 V
Average energy generation per day        :     1.2 KWh
LED Light wattage                     : 10 Watt
Fan wattage                        : 32 Watt
Charging Point wattage                :10 Watt
Peak Electric Load of BVZI Wagon            :52 Watt
Number of Hours of Power availability        :24 Hrs
(with single charge)

b. Battery Bank
Type of Battery                 : One Sealed maintenance free ( SMF)
Rated Capacity                 :100AH, 12V

c. Environment friendly Bio- Toilet system
Discharge free Environment friendly Bio-Toilet.
Bacterial decay of solid waste
Provision of potable Water system.

d.  Other features
Data recording through Data Logger
Performance monitoring through GPRS system
Protection against surging
Auto low voltage cut off and wake up system through Charge Controller
Anti pilferage measures adopted

Source:PIBNEWS

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Wednesday, 29 June 2016

08:57

Chennai Metro Rail plans to go 100% Solar in a year

Chennai Metro Rail plans to go 100% Solar in a year

Photovoltaic systems to be installed in stations. CMRL officials have identified areas in stations along the Koyambedu-Alandur stretch for installing Solar Panels. Metro rail to save 1.12 crore each year by using solar power

Chennai: Chennai Metro Rail Ltd. (CMRL) plans to go fully solar in phase one by next year. While 1 MW of solar power would be available in a few months as work has already started, the CMRL will have another 8 MW of solar power at its disposal later next year. The plan is not just to make it self-sufficient but also feed the surplus power to the Tangedco grid, officials said.

Solar PV systems would be installed in elevated stations, depot and ancillary buildings of underground stations.

CMRL has estimated the available roof-top area for solar projects to be approximately 40,000 square metres and about 20,000 sq.m. at the depots. They have identified areas in stations along the Koyambedu-Alandur stretch that can be put to use.

The first service of Chennai Metro Rail was started a year ago between Koyambedu and Alandur and the next stretch between Little Mount and Chennai airport is likely to be opened in August end. Chennai Metro Rail has identified spaces for solar generation in the next stretch between Little Mount and Chennai airport too.

For exploring the potential to tap solar energy in the roof spaces of stations, Chennai Metro Rail has floated expression of interest where vendors can look at ways to implementing this project.

“The work on the first project of generating 1 MW power has already started and will be completed in a few months. The 8 MW project may take up to a year. But we are hoping complete it as soon as possible,” an official said.

For the first time, CMRL will be using solar power from the third week of July for its administrative office as well as operating trains. The CMRL has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Su-Kam, a solar power company to install a 1MW grid on the Koyambedu CMRL depot.

It is expected that CMRL will be saving over 1.12 crore each year by using solar power. “We are hoping that Su-Kam will commission the solar power project in our depot by next month. This will be the first solar power unit in CMRL. We are ready to increase the solar power generation up to 8MW and we have expressed our interest,” a senior CMRL official said. The Southern Railway headquarters in Chennai is also setting up a solar power project on its terrace and the power generated will be used for office purpose.

The CMRL has identified around 29 locations with a total rooftop area of 79,759 sq m to install 8MW capacity rooftop solar plant. “We have called for the expression of interest for the project. It will take one or two years to commission the project with 8MW,” the official said.

As per Su-Kam, each unit will be charged at 5.95 and the PPA has been signed for 25 years. The 1MW grid tie solar photovoltaic system on the terrace of the Head Office of Chennai Metro Rail Ltd shall generate over 5000 units of electricity per day.”The entire system comprises 20 units of 50 Kw grid tie string inverters fitted with 3,200 units of 315Wp solar panels,” Venkat Kanna, assistant manager of Su-Kam told.

We believe solar energy is going to play a major role in addressing the energy crisis the country is currently facing. Su-Kam has played a key role in helping organisations go solar and we have been working closely with Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency, he said.

Source:RailNews
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Thursday, 31 March 2016

19:00

Chennai Metro Rail to go Solar in 6 months

Chennai Metro Rail to go Solar in 6 months

The power panels will generate 1MW that will take care of 30 per cent of energy requirement
Chennai: In six months, Chennai Metro Rail may have its first solar power generation facilities with a production capacity of 1MW.
According to officials of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), they have signed an agreement with a firm in this regard.
At first, the solar power panels will be installed on the rooftop of the shed in the depot at Koyambedu; then, they will explore the option of installing it in stations too, officials said.

This depot, which sprawls over 26 hectares, is being built at a cost of Rs. 198 crore; and it houses stabling lines, workshops, washing plants for trains and also the Operation Control Centre (OCC) from where all trains of Chennai Metro Rail can be controlled and monitored.
“Currently, we use about 40,000 units of electricity; if this solar power generation begins, it may be able to take about 30-40 per cent of the total energy consumption. We may be able to use it for various functions including running of escalators, lifts and other such purposes,” an official said.
Ramya Gopinath of Solar Mango, a solar energy consulting firm said aiding the supply of electricity with solar power is a great initiative for mass rapid transit.
“1MW may not be huge investment for a mass rapid transit like Chennai Metro Rail; but it is a good startWith 1MW, they can meet up to 30 per cent of the total energy requirement. But it will help to a great extent only if they eventually increase the production capacity. It will be better if they at least go up to 3 MW,” she said.
Delhi Metro Rail had exploited this resource to such an extent that they were given an award for the highest capacity installation of grid connected solar power plants on rooftops last year.
They have commissioned about 2,000 KWP of rooftops solar plants and also signed a power purchase agreement for another 7MW capacity.
In December, they signed an MoU with Solar Energy Corporation of India for production of 500MW for catering to its upcoming phase III project.
Similarly, Bangalore Metro Rail too has made plans to exploit solar energy potential in its station premises.
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Thursday, 10 March 2016

07:43

How Solar Panels Work

How Solar Panels Work

Although solar is becoming more popular everyday people still don’t know how solar panels work. Certain competing energy concerns have campaigns to discredit and confused consumers on how solar energy is generated. There are many considerations in regards to solar and distinctions between residential and industrial, between being off the grid and connecting the grid.  This simple guide will outline how Solar Panels Work. Here’s a quick “how solar panels work” guide to the steps that it takes to turn sunlight into electricity using solar panels:

Every day, light hits your roof’s solar panels with photons (particles of sunlight).

The panel converts those photons into electrons of direct current (“DC”) electricity. Naturally, the sunnier it is, the more energy is produced by the panels.
Those produced electrons flow out of the panel and into an inverter and other electrical safety devices.

The  inverter converts that “DC” power into alternating current or “AC” power. AC power is the kind of electric juice that your television, computer, and toasters use when plugged into the wall outlet.

A bi-directional meter keeps track of the all the power your solar system produces. Any solar energy that you don’t use immediately will go back into the grid through the meter. Then at night or on cloudy days, that extra solar juice is credited back to your bill. So, net metering is similar to having a virtual battery-back up system (we explain more about grid-tied solar home solar systems later)

States all have different setups for solar, California is leading the charge in increasing solar availability.

Some homes will store the energy created from solar panels with a battery, this is not as common as connecting to the grid.

Solar panels that can avoid shade, can maximize sun coverage will produce the most solar energy power.

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Monday, 28 September 2015

11:05

Solar Power panels atop Train Coaches can save 11 Crore Litres of Diesel, reduce 3 Lakh Tons of Carbondioxide Emissions: IISc Scientists

Solar Power panels atop Train Coaches can save 11 Crore Litres of Diesel, reduce 3 Lakh Tons of Carbondioxide Emissions: IISc Scientists

Chennai: Fitting a solar panel module on the roof of a railway coach can yield more than 7,200 units of electricity every year. If implemented on all 63,511 coaches in the Railways, 450 million units of power can be harnessed resulting in savings of 10.8 crore litres of diesel and reduction of carbon dioxide emission by approximately 3 lakh tonnes.

Power on Track
These are the findings of a pilot field research conducted by a team of scientists from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, who travelled on a solar-panel fitted LHB (Linke Hoffman Busch) coach, a latest German technology bogie, which was attached to the Chennai-Coimbatore, Chennai-Mysore Shatabdi and Chennai-Bangalore Double Decker Express trains on different days during June 24-July 2. The research was carried out to assess the feasibility and viability of generating electricity on a moving train from solar panels fitted on the rooftops of trains and the impact of factors like sunshine, train speed, number of halts, track curves, etc.

The pilot study was carried out in a ‘worst-case scenario’, i.e. during the onset of the Southwest monsoon on railway routes with low sunshine due to clouds or rainfall. Hence the electricity generation in places and seasons of harsher sunshine would give a greater yield, thereby projecting a figure bigger than what was arrived at in this study.

The coach could generate a maximum of 1.8 units of electricity per day, according to the research findings. This was extrapolated to a scenario where 24 such panels (12X2 module) could be retrofitted on the coach.

Thus, the resulting yield was assessed to be 18-20 units per day. The figures for yearly savings have been arrived at by assuming that the coach would be in operation for 365 days a year in the report, though the industry standard is 330 days.

The study was done on the Shatabdi Express as it has minimum stoppages; however, the team wanted to measure the power yield at lower speeds and hence the Double Decker Express train was chosen. The team also reported on a number of practical factors which contributed to fluctuations in electricity generation during all the trial runs. A static trial was also carried out at the Basin Bridge yard here to compare the parameters with the dynamic trial.

The study is significant in the context of the shift by the Railways from conventional coaches to German technology LHB rakes, which have better safety features. For operation of electrical appliances inside an LHB coach, power supply from the End on Generation (EOG) system (a generator) is needed, which consumes 0.25 litres of diesel to generate 1 unit of electricity. If every LHB rake is fitted with 12X2 Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) module, it would result in huge energy savings as well as cut environmental pollution caused by burning diesel.

The study findings could be used to manufacture and design many such Solar Rail Coaches on a large-scale which could significantly bring down the price of the solar panels and operational costs. In addition, with increased interest in the field of solar energy research, an advancement in technology raised the possibility of a yield greater than what was obtained during the field trials, resulting in greater diesel savings and an effective solution for reduced emissions. Railway officials noted that implementation of the project on a wider scale could provide a fillip to the domestic solar panel manufacturing industry in line with the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
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Thursday, 10 September 2015

15:37

SunEdison installs Solar systems on DMRC’s Badarpur-Faridabad Line

SunEdison installs Solar systems on DMRC’s Badarpur-Faridabad Line

New Delhi: SunEdison, Inc. (NYSE: SUNE), the largest global renewable energy development company, today announced the successful installation and operation of eight solar systems for India’s Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

The Badarpur-Faridabad metro line, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, “is the first metro line in the DMRC network to integrate solar into the design of the buildings”, SunEdison said.

The newly finished Badarpur-Faridabad line is the first metro line in the DMRC network to integrate solar into the design of the buildings. The solar systems are built on the roofs of the stations and depot and are expected to generate 1.9 megawatts (MW) of clean, reliable, and cost effective solar power.

“Millions of people rely on the Delhi Metro each day and by installing SunEdison’s solar system in eight of the metro lines, we are excited that these commuters will be able to benefit from a clean and reliable source of electricity,” said Pashupathy Gopalan, SunEdison’s president of Asia-Pacific and Sub-Saharan Africa. “These systems took only two months to build and will generate electricity for the metro line for 25 to 30 years with little maintenance cost.”

A DMRC representative commented: “The solar plants on the rooftops of the Faridabad line represent our commitment to clean energy, and to bringing the best technology and expertise to support our network. We thank SunEdison for their work on these plants, and look forward to working with them again.”

The solar systems are expected to generate 2.5 gigawatt-hours of electricity a year, and avoid the emission of 1,700 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year, the equivalent of taking 363 cars off the road or preventing more than 800 metric tons of coal from being burned.

SunEdison is building similar solar power plants generating 1.7 MW at the rail company’s Yamuna Bank station and Yamuna Bank yard. Operation and maintenance of the solar power plants will be performed by SunEdison Services, which provides global 24/7 asset management, monitoring and reporting services.

About SunEdison

SunEdison is the largest global renewable energy development company and is transforming the way energy is generated, distributed, and owned around the world. The company develops, finances, installs, owns and operates renewable power plants, delivering predictably priced electricity to its residential, commercial, government and utility customers. SunEdison is one of the world’s largest renewable energy asset managers and provides customers with asset management, operations and maintenance, monitoring and reporting services. Corporate headquarters are in the United States with additional offices and technology manufacturing around the world. SunEdison’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SUNE.” To learn more visit www.sunedison.com.

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15:31

Indian Railways to introduce 500 Solar Panel fitted Trains

Indian Railways to introduce 500 Solar Panel fitted Trains

A lot of latest innovations are being brought in the system with the directives of the Railway Minister who is determined to change the way the IR works

New Delhi: Indian Railways may introduce 500 trains with solar panel fitted coaches. Reports that the ministry of new and renewable energy could subsidize the project cost. The national transporter had run a pilot project with a specially outfitted coach earlier this year to study the feasibility of such an initiative.

The energy generated by the solar panels is likely to be used solely to meet illumination and air flow requirements in the bogies.

The report does not detail whether the project would also have storage mechanisms coupled with the panels to power devices in the absence of sunlight.

The railways already have a plan to install solar power capacity of 500 megawatts on rooftops of railway stations

It is part of the organization’s target to meet 10 percent of its energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020.

And it has signed four agreements with the ministries of power and renewable energy toward this purpose last month.

On average, Indian Railways is seeing 5 percent increase in energy consumption annually. In the year ended March 31, the railways had a power bill of Rs12,500 crore.

Recently the railway network of The Netherlands, Nederlandse Spoorwegen, announced that it will be operating its entire rolling stock on wind power by 2018.
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Tuesday, 25 August 2015

22:48

To Setup Solar Plants on Railway Lands - Railway Minister


To Setup Solar Plants on Railway Lands - Railway Minister

MUMBAI:  Centre is mulling to set up solar thermal plants on land parcels owned by Railways to boost up the usage of renewable energy, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said today at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) event in Mumbai.

"There is a need to work towards reducing carbon emissions. We cannot continue to depend on the traditional sources of energy like coal if we have to reduce carbon emission. We will have to find innovative ways, use technology and processes that can reduce these emissions," the minister said.

The ministry is taking various steps to increase usage of solar power to meet the needs of Railways that consumes maximum electricity.

"We have already initiated the process of using rooftop of railway buildings for generating solar power. We are also harnessing solar energy by putting panels on the roof of railway coaches," he said.

"We are also planning to develop solar thermal way of generating power. The Centre has plenty of Railways land across the country where solar thermal projects can be set up," Mr Prabhu said.

We are considering developing solar power generation under Public Private Partnership model," the minister added.

Mr Prabhu in his maiden budget had announced that government will be setting up 1,000 MW solar plants in next five years.

Speaking at the occasion, Forbes Marshall Director and CII President Designate Naushad Forbes said, "Around 42 per cent of India's greenhouse gas emissions come from energy generation and about 76 per cent of that energy is consumed by industrial and commercial users. Accurate measurement is the first step to mitigation."

The Railway Minister further said there was a need to conduct energy audits to keep a control on such emissions and effective use of electricity.
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Wednesday, 8 July 2015

07:33

CONCOR to set up Solar Energy Plants at Abu Road and Bhilwara Railway Stations under CSR initiatives

CONCOR to set up Solar Energy Plants at Abu Road and Bhilwara Railway Stations under CSR initiatives

Under the use of Solar Energy Programme in Indian Railways, Two Railway Stations in Rajasthan Namely Aburoad and Bhilwara Station to be Illuminated with Solar Energy

Indian Railways continues to take steps for increased use of environment friendly solar energy to supplement its energy needs. Under this programme, an important initiative has been taken today i.e. on 7.7.2015 by Ajmer Division of North Western Railway to illuminate its two Railway Stations namely Abu Road and Bhilwara Railway stations in Rajasthan with solar energy.

In this connection Ajmer Divisional Railway office has signed an MOU with Railways PSU viz. CONCOR to set up the solar plant at Aburoad and Bhilwara station under CSR (corporate social responsibility). The MOU has been signed between the two organizations today i.e. on 7.7.15 at Delhi in the presence of Shri Naresh Salecha, DRM Ajmer Division and Board of Directors CONCOR. Officers of Railways & CONCOR were present on the occasion.

The funding of the solar project will be done by CONCOR under CSR (Corporate social responsibility) programme & solar plant will be set up by Ajmer Division. CONCOR will provide approx. Rs 100 lacs to Railway to set up the solar plant on both stations. It is the result of special efforts made by DRM Shri Naresh Salecha. Solar plants have already been installed & working at Ajmer and Udaipur stations of Ajmer Division.

In this project, Railway will set up 40 KWP solar plant at Aburoad station and 40 KWP solar plants at Bhilwara station. The Solar plant will be maintained for 5 years under warranty scheme. The energy generated from it will provide continuous power supply to Railway platforms and the offices situated at the stations. After set up, the solar plant will not only ensure energy conservation, but will also help to keep the environment pollution free. The solar plant at both stations will produce 1, 50,000 units per year & railway will save Rs. 10, 50,000 per year. The codal life/estimated life of this project is 25 years. In this way Railways will save Rs. 2.5 cr. or more. Passengers of Aburoad and Bhilwara railway stations will be benefitted by this project.
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Thursday, 25 June 2015

21:03

Railways to float Tenders to procure 200 MW Solar Energy in 2 months

Railways to float Tenders to procure 200 MW Solar Energy in 2 months

Railways plans to install solar power plants of about 8.8 MW capacity at railway stations, railway office buildings and level crossing gates throughout the country under railway funding

New Delhi:  Indian Railways will float tenders to procure at least 200 mega watt of solar energy in the next two months, a step which will promote use of non-conventional energy in its daily functioning.

Union Minister of State for Railways Manoj Kumar Sinha said the Centre is presently working out details of the plan. The tender is part of Railways’ plan to procure 1000 mega watt of solar energy over the next five years.

“We have fixed a target of procuring 1000 mega watt solar power in the whole Indian Railways. We are working on it. We are going to float a tender for at least 200 mega watts in next two moths. We have plenty of rooftops available in Indian Railways (to install the panels),” he said.

The Ministry has commissioned one mega watt solar power plant – the largest such project in the country till now – at Katra Railway station in Jammu and Kashmir on March 30 this year.

“This initiative was taken after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s instructions during inauguration of the Udhampur-Katra section of Kashmir Rail Link Project,” a senior Northern Railway official said.

Railways proposes to harness solar energy by utilising rooftop space through public private partnership (PPP) mode as per feasibility, the modalities of which are being worked out.

According to the plan, Railways plans to install solar power plants of about 8.8 MW capacity at railway stations, railway office buildings and level crossing gates throughout the country under railway funding.

These include provision of 10 KWp solar PV modules each at 200 stations under various Zonal Railways, provision of total 4.05 MWp Solar Photo Voltaic (SPV) at roof top of 21 railway office buildings and provision of total 1.3 MWp capacity Solar Photo Voltaic (SPV) plants at 2000 Level Crossing gates on Indian railways.

The generation of solar supply will help railways supply power at remote locations and save in diesel due to reduced running of diesel generators, officials said.

Recently, the Railways rolled out a non-AC coach of Rewari-Sitapur passenger train lit by solar panels installed on its roof.
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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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Thursday, 4 June 2015

07:42

Indian Railways successfully test Solar possibilities with experimental coach

Indian Railways successfully test Solar possibilities with experimental coach

Delhi: A coach fitted with solar panels is paving the way for clean power operated trains in India. The Daily Mail has reported that the coach, which captures 17 units of electricity on average each day from its rooftop panels, is currently undergoing trials successfully.

Arun Arora, Divisional Railway Manager, Delhi said the Indian Railways will decide on converting entire trains to solar power depending on the report on the success of the trials.

An estimate places the savings from such an initiative at Rs1.24 lakh per coach each year. Studies have reportedly shown that solar powered trains can reduce consumption of diesel by 90,000 litres a year and also cut carbon dioxide emission by more than 200 tons.

The introduction of solar panel powered coaches will reduce load on diesel-powered engines which have conventionally been supplying power to coaches to meet their internal electricity requirements that include lights and fans.

The railways has stated that fuel bills form the second biggest component of its expenditure after salaries. In 2013-14, it spent Rs 28,500 crore, or 22 per cent of the total expenditure of Rs 1.27 lakh crore, on fuel.

Each standard railway coach affords 40 square meters of rooftop on which 18 standard solar panels can be accommodated. In the trial coach 12 solar panels covering 24 square meters have been installed.

According to the current plan, solar panels are to be provided on alternate coaches which would supply electricity to the neighbouring coach when they require power.

Railways has been considering introduction of clean energy sources as part of its infrastructure, particularly since the government revised its renewable energy target to 175 gigawatts of installed capacity by 2022.

Trains in Delhi division are already using dual fuel engines — diesel and CNG — and are saving both fuel and money.

Besides railways, metro companies have also shown keen interest in introducing solar panels to partly meet requirements of their operations.

Recently the Nagpur Metro and Kochi Metro companies were in the news for their solar proposals.
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Tuesday, 2 June 2015

11:19

Railways trials Solar-powered trains to help cut pollution

Railways trials Solar-powered trains to help cut pollution

New Delhi: Indian Railways is soon going to materialise its ambitious plan of harnessing solar energy to run trains. The prototype of the solar power-enabled coach is undergoing trials, and soon the entire train will be fitted with solar panels, officials said. While solar power will significantly bring down diesel consumption, it will also prove to be cost-effective. At present, nearly 17 units of electricity are being generated from the solar power enabled coach.

“As the pilot project, one non-AC coach has been fitted with solar panels on the rooftop. The trial has been successful so far with the coach generating nearly 17 units of electricity every day. Depending on its success, decision will be taken to convert the entire train into a solar power-enabled one,” said Divisional Railway Manager, Delhi Division Mr.Arun Arora.

Officials said that by harnessing solar power, the railways will be able to save Rs 1.24 lakh per coach year.

“Solar energy will be used to meet the electricity needs in moving trains, and reduce diesel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions,” Arora said.

According to studies, a train using solar power can reduce diesel consumption by up to 90,000 litres per year and also bring down the carbon dioxide emission by over 200 tonnes.

As per the plan, the train would be pulled by conventional diesel-run engines while solar panels will provide all the internal electricity needs for lights and fans on both AC and non-AC coaches.

Officials said India has huge solar power potential, with a good amount of sunlight available for a major part of the day round the year. Harnessing solar power to power Indian Railways is more feasible and cost-effective.

The clear motive of the project is to cut down on the railways’ fuel bill, which is the second-largest component of expenditure after the employee salaries for the cash-strapped government behemoth used by over 1.3 crore people every day.

In 2013-14, from the Rs 1.27 lakh crore of Indian Railways’ expenditure, nearly Rs 28,500 crore (22 per cent) were spent on fuel.

According to a Northern Railway official, 40 sqmetre of space is available on a train’s roof top. Of these, nearly 24 sq-metre of space is covered with 12 solar panels. The remaining 16 sq-metre of space can further accommodate six solar panels, officials said.

As per the mechanism, alternate coaches are provided with solar panels and when required electricity is fed from the adjoining coach.

Indian Railways has been focusing on alternate source of fuels with trials already on to use CNG, biodiesel and natural gas among others.

CNG is being used in local trains on Rohtak–Rewari section of Delhi Division. The dual fuel concept of using CNG and diesel has also helped in saving fuel and money.
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Saturday, 16 May 2015

22:16

Indore railway station gets 20 KW solar power plant

Indore railway station gets 20 KW solar power plant 

INDORE: With an aim to conserve power, a 20-KW solar power plant was inaugurated today at the Indore railway station here.

The solar powered grid plant of 20-KW capacity was today inaugurated by Indian Container Corporation Limited Managing Director Anil Kumar Gupta. 

With the help of corporation, a total of 100 KW solar power plants were established in Chiitorgarh, Neemuch, Ratlam and Indore which resulted in the saving of Rs 12 lakh per year on energy charges, Western Railway's Ratlam Division's spokesperson Jitendra Kumar Jayant said. 

He informed that with this solar power plant, 100 units of electricity will be generated on a daily basis. 

 Source: The Economic Times.

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Wednesday, 29 April 2015

07:50

300 days of good sunshine in India,need not to import solar energy

Suresh Prabhu cautions against Effects of Greenhouse Gases; advocates use of Solar, Wind Energy

New Delhi, Apr 20: Cautioning against harmful effects of greenhouse gases due to fossil fuel use, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has advocated a paradigm shift in the energy scenario through the use of alternative energy like solar and wind power. “The largescale use of fossil fuel worldwide is causing greenhouse gas emission affecting the climate adversely. All have agreed that greenhouse gas emission due to use of fossil fuel is causing global warming and climate change,” he said at a memorial lecture on Sunday.

Explaining the consequence of greenhouse gas emission, he said, “The unseasonal rain in the recent time and the amount of change in weather cannot be imagined. Extreme weather is causing adverse effect on agriculture like damage to crop.” He said the present global regime of energy is not sustainable in terms of environment.

We must find out new source of energy which are sustainable and it is a big challenge today.” Advocating use of solar and wind energy, he said solar and wind energy can lead to a new paradigm shift in the energy scenario.

“We have 300 days of good sunshine in India. We do not have to import solar energy. We should focus on solar power,” he said. “However, there is a requirement for storage facility of solar energy, he said. The Minister also suggested tapping of oceanic energy while noting that India has a long coastline. Suggesting other changes to keep the environment clean, he said, “Buildings should be designed as energy-efficient. Since ground water is depleting, steps should be taken like rain water harvesting to prevent further fall in water level.”
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Friday, 24 April 2015

08:00

America’s Valley Metro Rail slated to open world’s first Solar-Powered Rail Maintenance facility

America’s Valley Metro Rail slated to open world’s first Solar-Powered Rail Maintenance facility

Valley, AZ, USA: On Wednesday, Valley Metro will begin powering its new rail operations and maintenance center with solar power.

The new plant utilizes 2,800 solar voltaic panels that span 1.15 acres, and it’s capable of generating 1.3 million Kilowatt-hours of energy saving annually — the equivalent of powering 123 homes, Valley Metro officials said in a press release.

The agency received a Transit Investments of Greenhouse Gas and Emissions Reduction (TIGGER) federal grant to help fund construction and installation of the new solar power system. Additional funding was secured through the Arizona Public Service Company’s Schools and Government Incentive program.

Valley Metro did not disclose the project’s cost.

“From reducing greenhouse gases to improving fuel usage, we are proud to be involved in a variety of initiatives to protect and preserve our environment,” said Steve Banta, chief executive officer of Valley Metro. “Solar energy is a principal addition to our growing sustainability efforts.”

The agency also earlier received bronze-level status from the American Public Transportation Association for its commitment to making sustainability a part of its strategic investments, developing an awareness program and establishing a sustainability inventory, officials said.
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Monday, 6 April 2015

07:36

Time to use Solar Power to move our Trains

Time to use Solar Power to move our Trains

The zero-fuel aeroplane Solar Impulse-2 is perhaps the brightest example as to how solar power can best be harnessed for societal welfare. This is only applied quality science, which Indian entrepreneurs and policy makers have long forgotten, rather selfishly.

This apart, the Solar Impulse-2 is definitely one of the most encouraging examples of how enterprise and innovation can be matched to create beneficial ideas for the larger society, a fact which is seriously absent among Indian business communities.

It is a wishful thinking that the Indian business communities should have taken a leaf or two from such innovative efforts in energy, instead of investing time about profiteering without national development, as we find in the coal blocks issues.

The Swiss businessmen-cum explorers André Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard have shown innovation par excellence which is generally absent in Indian entrepreneurs.

Solar Impulse is an airplane known to have perpetual endurance capacities, and is capable of flying day and night on solar power, without aviation fuel. The cockpit and the engines function on electricity inseminated by constantly harnessed solar power. Such harnessing is possible even in cloudy sky, as solar power does not get lost in clouds.

According to records, initially the success rate was reported to have been slim. With innovation of a prototype called HB-SIA, the success rate improved. The experiment has been furthered in the second generation of the airplane named Solar Impulse-2, which today has brought in desired results. According to reports, more innovative applications are on the anvil, and more good results are likely to come.

Though problems about creating the cockpit comfort for pilots in the Impulse2  without increasing the weight of the airplane are yet to be addressed, as tell the reports, no surprise that even this would be solved soon.

Many things can be harnessed through continual experiments. The flights from Abu Dhabi to Muscat in Oman, then to Myanmar, to Ahmedabad and Varanasi are all long journeys from the initial one in June last year in Switzerland.

The solar cells built into the airplane’s wings to supply constant electricity to its engine makes us to think that similar experiment in Indian long-distance trains are also possible.

The Railways Budget 2015-16 has given some stress on energy procurement and consumption thereof, to manage its running costs, apart from those incurred for the passengers. Ironically, there was no honest reason why this central aspect of functioning of the national transporter could not be addressed before.

Fuel Efficiency has been the story here long waiting to be told. Quite a few such ventures were envisioned by former Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, which have been put on docks for reasons only political equations can justify. Units for manufacturing railways implements all across the country is one which Mamata Banerjee had conceptualised, which today we find to be very much in line with the Prime Minister’s ‘Make in India’ vision.

Fitting solar cells on long-distance trains can be a formidable progressive innovation that the railways board should consider. In similar ways, in all railway stations, corridors, railways’ buildings solar panels can be fitted to elicit solar power and cut the fossil fuel generated electricity consumption. This would also result in cutting running costs.

Though differently, we have already found some manufacturing spearheads in the New Delhi Metro Railway system. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has started manufacturing its compartments within the country, taking the advantage from the South Korean technology. The success story in the Delhi Metro case means innovation is possible, if situations and demands are handled efficiently.

Indian Railways indeed has potentials to emerge as a glorious national example of ‘Make in India’ hub in each of its nook and corner, by setting up its own solar energy harnessing as well as manufacturing units.

The problem lies elsewhere though: Indian Railway Budgets has always been drawn only for partisan concerns. Though the current budget claims to have looked into creating the best possible efficacies in fuel generation and consumption, as is explained by its finance commissioner Rajlakshmi Ravikumar at an interview with a pink paper a few weeks back, yet chances are bright that these would end up as mere windbags of promises.

There has been input of quality norms in understanding and correcting what ails Indian railways. The issues about taking operational energy from low-cost diesels had always been in the common sight. These were dogging the earlier ministers for Railways constantly, even as all of them wanted to cut operational costs by subsidizing the diesel and electricity costs.

In the process they ignored a vital point, that subsidising energy costs would only boomerang into the railways costing paradigms through wastage or ill-management of energy. After all the first lesson of quality management should be the zero wastage.

Now with PPPs in place, as proposed, subsiding the diesel or even electricity supplied, has to be judiciously handled. Also this might lead to manage the energy supplies better, yet the basics continue to remain unaddressed. The private partners should have national zeal in their minds more than their selfish profit mindset.

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