DMRC Plans to Boost Renewable Energy Usage by 50% with Vertical Solar Panels
Renewable Energy in Delhi Metro
With a network of over 390 kilometers, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is one of India’s largest mass rapid transit systems. DMRC is committed to reducing its carbon footprint by increasing the proportion of renewable energy in its total power supply. The metro rail corporation hopes to increase the proportion of renewable energy to 50% by 2031. The DMRC currently gets 35% of its energy from renewable sources. The company has already installed rooftop solar panels at depots and metro stations, and it also purchases solar energy from an offsite solar facility. Furthermore, DMRC intends to install vertical solar panels on each side of elevated corridor viaducts to meet the energy requirements of the elevated metro corridors with renewable energy.
The DMRC’s plan to boost renewable energy
DMRC intends to install vertical solar panels on both sides of elevated viaducts to increase the share of renewable energy. The initiative’s goal is to use renewable energy to meet the energy needs of elevated metro corridors. The company has already installed rooftop solar panels at metro stations and depots, in addition to purchasing solar energy from an offsite solar facility. DMRC intends to begin by installing vertical solar photovoltaic panels rated at 100 kWp on its viaducts. The installation of vertical solar panels will begin in August.
The initial test site for the project will be the Magenta Line segment between Jamia Millia and Okhla Vihar. Following installation, testing will be performed to determine the effectiveness of the new system. DMRC officials stated that all 27 elevated metro stations within Phase IV’s priority corridors will be equipped with solar panel infrastructure.
DMRC’s current renewable energy usage
Currently, renewable energy accounts for 35% of DMRC’s total energy supply. DMRC gets about 30% of its green energy from the Rewa Solar Power facility in Madhya Pradesh, 4% from rooftop solar panels, and 1% from the Ghazipur waste-to-energy facility. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has installed solar panels with a 50 MWp generating capacity on 142 rooftops. However, a significant increase in the use of renewable energy is required to meet DMRC’s goal of increasing the share of renewable energy to 50% by 2031.
The Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) and its solar power plant
Along with the DMRC, the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) intends to use solar energy to meet 70% of the corridor’s overall energy needs between Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Meerut. According to the National Capital Region Transport Corporation, there is an estimated 11 MWp of solar power potential on the station rooftops (NCRTC). These solar panels are expected to generate approximately 10 million solar energy units, the majority of which will be used by the NCRTC to power auxiliary usage at stations and other structures. Solar panel installation is currently underway on the RRTS corridor. The NCRTC’s solar power plant, which includes 54 solar panels installed on the roof of the Ghaziabad receiving substation (RSS), has already started producing electricity. Solar panels at Ghaziabad RSS can generate approximately 25,000 units of electricity per year.
Pilot program
The vertical solar project will be tested first on the Magenta Line between Jamia Millia and Okhla Vihar, with installation work beginning in August 2023.
Conclusion
To summarise, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s decision to use more renewable energy by installing vertical solar panels is a significant step towards sustainability and carbon reduction. The effort is not only economically viable but also environmentally friendly, as cost savings are expected over time. This project demonstrates how cutting-edge, environmentally friendly transport technologies can be used to combat climate change. Renewable energy sources should be promoted and copied in other industries in order to move towards a cleaner and greener future. This effort is intended to encourage other transport systems to investigate renewable energy sources and contribute to the creation of a more sustainable future.