To reduce carbon footprint, the Western Railway will soon have solar panels at around 30 locations— with a total capacity of 2 MW—that will provide power for its non-traction work. This will help WR reduce it dependence on energy from coal-fired plants by around 10 percent and save lakhs of rupees in power bill.
WR’s Mumbai division requires 25 lakh units per month for non-traction work, which is purchased from BEST or Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Compa ny Ltd at an average of Rs 10 per unit.
WR’s chief public relations officer Ravindar Bhakar is of the opinion that they may soon sign a power purchase agreement (PPA) with a firm that has offered to provide power at Rs 5 per unit.
Explaining the system, a senior official said that the stations will first use the electricity from the solar power system, and if there is a shortfall it will switch to power from BEST or other whichever the power supply firm is.
By Shruti
