WR replaces conventional light fittings with energy-efficient LED lights
at all 726 stations.
Photo caption: Solar panels installed at rooftop of Mumbai Central EMU Car Shed. LED lights in place of conventional light fittings at Vadodara station.
Western Railway is extensively contributing to ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ while providing clean and green transportation to its commuters. Right from plastic ban to waste collection to recycling, Western Railway is exploring new ideas every day. One of them is the Solar PV modules of various capacities installed on rooftops of railway station platforms, service buildings & workshops etc in all the six divisions of WR.
So far this year, Western Railway has installed solar plants of a total capacity of 8.63 MWp. In the current financial year, Western Railway has consumed 2.58 million units green energy generated by these solar plants and thus saved Rs. 1.1 crore on energy bill on account of difference in per-unit cost of energy supplied by State Electricity Boards vis-à-vis cost of energy generated by solar plants.
According to a press release issued by Shri Ravinder Bhakar – Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, the total annual savings on energy bill during the current financial year 2019-20 is expected to be Rs. 2.5 crores. In addition to saving in the energy bill, there is a huge saving in fossil fuel and reduction of 12,000 tonnes of CO2 emission, which helps in maintaining a clean and green environment.
Further, Western Railway has also replaced conventional light fittings by energy-efficient LED lights at all the 726 stations, 2,479 service buildings and 40,714 residential quarters, which also helps in energy conservation as well as reduce carbon footprint. Shri Bhakar also added that the solar plants installed over Western Railway are under three different categories, which are:
· Departmentally installed by Western Railway, for which capital investment is done by the Railway and the maintenance is also done departmentally. WR have installed 0.3 MWp solar plants under this category.
· Installed under CSR initiative, for which capital investment is done by corporates and maintenance is done departmentally. WR have installed 0.22 MWp solar plants under this category.
· Installed under RESCO (Renewable Energy Service Company) model in which installation of solar plants is done by SPD(Solar Power Developer) with 100% investment on installation and maintenance by them. Energy generated from the solar plant is purchased by Western Railway under long term power purchase agreement for 25 years. Western Railway has installed 8.11 MWp solar plants under this category.
It is truly commendable that with various green initiatives and ideas under its belt, Western Railway continues to be on the path of guarding the environment by its commitment towards creating a cleaner and healthier environment through its green initiatives.
