South Western Railway installs 4656 kWp solar panels at rly stations

South Western Railway (SWR) has installed 4656.60 kilowatts peak (kWp) solar panels at service buildings and major railway stations. SWR has equipped solar panels at 120 stations rooftop, and seven service buildings. More Solar Rooftop plants have also been provided to both the Workshops in the zone and Krishnarajapuram Diesel Shed and Hubballi EMD Shed. Additionally, around 295 Level Crossing gates have been provided with Solar Panels. The solar electricity generation was 46.11 lakh units in the SWR zone resulting in saving in electricity bills to Rs 1.96 crores during the last financial year (FY). It is estimated that about 70% of the electricity requirement of SSS Hubballi railway station during FY 2021-22 (Total consumption of energy – 4.8 Lakh Units) was met via solar power. According to SWR, 83% of the energy requirement of Hubballi workshop is being fulfilled from solar energy, and 60% of the energy requirement of Hubballi EMD shed with 1.13 Lakh unit annual consumption of energy is being fulfilled from solar energy. Around 250 KWp Solar Panels established at Rail Soudha have generated 2.75 Lakh Units of energy resulting in savings of Rs 15.51 Lakh in FY 2021-22. In the last fiscal year, 320 kWp Solar Panels established at Hubballi DRM’s Office have generated 84,294 units of electricity contributing to Rs 2.80 Lakh as savings. During the last FY, the 80 kWp Solar panels at Bengaluru DRM’s Office have generated 94,115 units of energy resulting in Rs 4.25 Lakh savings. During the FY 2021-22, energy generation of 1.28 Lakh Units from the 100 kWp Solar installation at Mysuru DRM’s Office has resulted in Rs 5.11 Lakh savings. During the same period, 1045 kWp Solar Panels established at Hubballi Workshop produced 11.21 Lakh units of solar power contributing to Rs 47.28 Lakh as savings, and 500 kWp solar panels installed at Mysore Workshop produced solar energy of 5.36 Lakh units contributing to Rs 18.40 Lakh as savings. The energy generation of 6.77 Lakh units, 2.46 Lakh units, and 1.80 Lakh units has been contributed by 640 kWp solar panels established in Hubballi EMD shed, 240 kWp solar panels in Krishnarajapuram Diesel Shed, and 170 kWp solar panels in IOH Shed each. All three of them jointly contributed to Rs 52.04 Lakh savings. During FY 2021-22, Solar Panels at SSS Hubballi railway station produced power of 3.38 Lakh Units, 80 kWp Solar Panels at Yesvantpur station has produced 0.95 Lakh Units, and 110 kWp Solar panels at Mysuru station has produced 1.42 Lakh Units. These railway stations produced Rs 21.42 Lakhs savings altogether. In the current FY, SWR is planning to establish solar panels at 26 railway stations. Image Source Also read: South Western Railway commissions double-track project in Goa