Indian Railways has continued its innovation in utilizing solar energy to meet its energy needs and promote environmental sustainability. According to recent reports, it has successfully undertaken a pilot project to generate electricity by installing solar panels on railway tracks.
Banaras Locomotive Works (BARECA), Varanasi: For the first time in India, a portable solar panel system has been installed between railway tracks. The pilot project has been successful, with 28 solar panels of 15 kilowatt peak (KWp) capacity installed on a 70-meter-long track. It is estimated that this can generate approximately 3.21 lakh units of electricity annually.
Technical Specifications: The solar panels are specially designed to avoid disrupting train operations. Rubber-mounted pads are used to reduce vibrations, and the panels are fixed to concrete sleepers with epoxy adhesive. The panels can be easily removed when necessary, and a cleaning system is also in place.
Additional Projects: Indian Railways has installed 209 megawatts of solar plants across 2,249 railway stations and service buildings nationwide. This initiative has expanded to several states, including Karnataka, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh.
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Economic Benefits: By setting up solar plants on vacant railway land, Indian Railways aims to produce 30 gigawatts of electricity annually, potentially saving approximately ₹30,000 crore.
Environmental Goals: This project is part of Indian Railways' goal of achieving zero carbon emissions. The railway aims to produce 33 billion units of solar energy by 2030.