‘Green Initiative’: NER to use alternative energy

BAREILLY: Under its ‘Green Initiatives’ drive, the North Eastern Railway is all set to switch from traditional source of power to alternative energy by setting up solar power units on the roofs of divisional railway manager office, railway workshop and Bareilly city station.

Officials said with the installation of solar panels, they would be able to cut their electricity bills amounting Rs 15 lakh per annum by 30%. Besides, NER will also sell surplus power to the power grid.

NER public relation officer (PRO) Rajendra Singh told TOI, “A 300 KV solar power unit is being installed at the DRM office by erecting as many as 960 solar panels. Two more units of 200 and 50 KVs will be installed at the workshop building and Bareilly city station, respectively, by a Bhuvneshwar-based company Suryam International on public-private partnership (PPP) model. We have signed a contract for the next 25 years and need not to spend money on it.”

According to railway officials, at present, they are paying Rs 7 for a unit, but once the solar power unit gets functional, they will have to pay just Rs 4.89 per unit to Suryam International.

“As of now, our power consumption is 3 lakh units per month. With the solar panel becoming functional, we will be able to save Rs 1.25 lakh a month — Rs 15 lakh a year. By selling surplus electricity to the UP Power Corporation Ltd, we can also earn money,” Singh added.

Officials said they would cover all 85 stations falling under NER with solar power units. The NER has installed as many as 2,139 energy saving LED tubes and 1,066 LED bulbs at these stations.

Caption: Solar panels are being installed at DRM Izzatnagar office in Bareilly. Credit: Rakesh Kashyap.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes