Eastern Railway (ER) has set an ambitious target of 300 million watts (30 MWp) solar energy generation plan by 2020 from its roof top solar plants. The present generation is 30 million watts (3 MWp). It will also yield a saving of Rs 12 crore a year based on the present electricity tariff for ER.
This will generate alternative source of renewable energy amounting to one sixth of ER’s total non-traction energy consumption (30 Million Units out of 180 Million Units).
At present, a capacity of 55 Million Watts (5.5 MWp) rooftop solar plants have been commissioned in ER.
The process of commissioning the remaining 245 million watts solar plants at different places over ER by 2020 is on.
ER has already commissioned 2965 KWp grid connected rooftop solar project at
Howrah.
This is the largest solar capacity commissioned over single station in IR.
Solar panels have also been commissioned at Kolkata, Naihati, Asansol, Malda and several other stations over ER system.
