Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) aims to increase the share of renewable energy in its total power supply to 50 per cent by 2031.
At present, DMRC receives 35 per cent of its total energy supply from renewable energy sources.
To achieve its goal, DMRC plans to install vertical solar panels on both sides of viaducts of elevated corridors, in addition to the rooftop solar panels at metro stations and depots, and purchasing solar energy from an offsite solar facility.
Around 30 per cent of DMRC’s renewable energy is sourced from the Rewa solar power plant in Madhya Pradesh, four per cent from rooftop solar panels, and one per cent from the waste-to-energy plant in Ghazipur, Economic Times reported citing DMRC officials.
Delhi Metro has installed solar panels on 142 rooftops that can generate 50 MWp.
To further enhance the use of renewable energy, DMRC is planning the installation of 100 KWp vertical solar photovoltaic panels on its viaducts.
The pilot installation of 100 kWp panels will be placed on both sides of the elevated metro corridors.
Anuj Dayal, principal executive director of corporate communication at DMRC, said that the purpose of this project is to meet the energy requirements of the elevated metro corridors with renewable energy.
According to Dayal, the section of the Magenta Line that runs from Jamia Millia to Okhla Vihar has been chosen for a vertical solar project after an initial study and evaluation.
The installation work on the stretch is scheduled to begin in August.
After the pilot installation is completed, testing will be conducted to determine the efficacy of the system and to assess wind load from natural airflow, wind pressure, and vibrations resulting from train operations.
The results will then be used to validate the design prepared for implementing similar installations in the future.
All 27 elevated metro stations in DMRC’s under-construction Phase IV’s priority corridors will have infrastructure to accommodate solar panels.
According to the ET report, the target is 10 MW of solar power with the generation of around one crore units of green energy annually.