Kolkata: In an effort to minimise carbonfootprint and contribute towards reduction in global warming,the Eastern Railway on Friday said it has set an ambitiousplan to generate solar power of 300 million watts (30megawatt) by 2020.
Aiming at maximum possible use of clean and renewableenergy within the zone, the Eastern Railway (ER) has set arapid growth path for utilising solar energy from 30 millionwatts in 2018 to 300 million watts in 2020, ER spokespersonNikhil Chakraborty said.
‘At present, rooftop solar plants, commissioned by theEastern Railway, generate 55 million watts and process is onto increase the capacity by another 245 million watts by 2020to achieve the target for ‘Mission 300 million watts solarplants’ by 2020,’ he said.
Chakraborty said that achievement of the goal ofgenerating 300 million units (30 megwatts) will accrue asaving of Rs 12 crore in revenue expenses per year at presentrate of tariff.
The Eastern Railway has commissioned 2,965 kilo wattpower grid connected rooftop solar project at its busieststation Howrah, which ‘is the largest solar capacitycommissioned over a single station in Indian Railways’,Chakraborty said.
The ER has four divisions – Howrah, Sealdah, Asansoland Malda.
Solar panels have also been commissioned at Kolkata,Naihati, Asansol, Malda and many other places in the ER zone,he added.
Source: PTI
