India Railways is known as the largest consumer of electricity which comprises of 2 per cent share of national energy consumption and it’s moving towards greener path in order to electrify the railways and the railway stations.
About 78 railway stations across Kerela is planned to install solar rooftop systems. In Kannur, 100 kW solar project installation is going on. Southern Railways has installed solar rooftop panels at two railway stations: one at the Thalassery of 3kW and another one at Parli station of 2kW of capacity.
These initiatives were taken by the Rajen Gohain who is the Minister of State in Ministry of Railways in Lok Sabha. According to Mr Gohain, he says by replying to a question ” Indian Railways has provided solar panels on rooftop of 19 narrow gauge (Northern Railway) and three broad gauge non-air-conditioned coaches in service (one each by Northern Railway, West Central Railway & Southern Railway) for use of electrical energy in train lighting system, on trial basis.”
He says by further adding some lines that ” Railways will have a decision to provide solar rooftop panels of general coaches of two-day running intercity trains in Northern and Southern railways and 50 percent narrow gauge coaches plying on Pathankot – Joginder Nagar route in Kangra Valley section and Kalka-Shimla section of Northern Railway for conducting extended trials for one year in all weather conditions”
According to Mercom India, Indian Railways will work on all fronts to reduce its carbon footprint and it has been also reported that railways will soon launch tenders to set large-scale solar power projects, inching closer towards its solar power target of 5 GW. The 5 GW capacity will consist of utility-scale and rooftop solar power projects.
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