Indian Railways installs 130 kWp solar panels in Vijayawada station

The Indian Railways has installed 130 kWp solar panels at Vijayawada station in Andhra Pradesh, making it the first station in the country to have this facility. Solar energy will now account for 18% of the total power consumption of the railway station, according to Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal. The 65 kWp building-integrated photovoltaic solar cover was virtually commissioned by Vijayawada Divisional Railway Manager P Srinivas. With the new addition, the capacity of the solar photovoltaic cover-over platform in the Vijayawada railway station has increased to 130 kW. As per reports, the installation of a solar roof costs Rs 62 lakh. By 2030, the Indian Railways wants to be a net zero carbon emitter. To meet its traction power needs, the national transporter plans to build solar plants on unused railway land. The railways also plans to develop 20 GW of solar power plants on the ground. The Indian Railways had initially planned to set up 3 GWp of land-based solar plants in three phases in order to spread these pilot projects even further. It is also planning a storage-based solar project. This project is being undertaken by railways to manage peak demand management and solar peak generation management. The national carrier is also planning a pilot project with a capacity of 150 MW to procure renewable energy around the clock. Meanwhile, Indian Railways has completed a nationwide LED replacement programme that includes all railway stations, railway installations, and buildings. In addition, LED lighting has been installed in all Indian Railways residential quarters. Image Source Also read: RailTel installs IP-based CCTV cameras at 813 major stations in India Also read: Railways prioritises completion of 126 projects worth Rs 115k cr