Kochi: In a major step towards the 100% self-sufficiency in energy needs, the Kochi Metro is planning a solar power plant in Kasaragod.
Kochi Metro was the first metro service in the country which used solar power to meet a quarter of its power requirement at the time of the commissioning of the first phase of the project.
After implementing various solar power initiatives, the Metro now meets half of its electricity demands through solar power.
KMRL managing director Loknath Behera said that the solar plant would be set up in a 45 acre site in Kasaragod, where a private entity had planned a similar project earlier and later it was abandoned.
KMRL had recently commissioned 1.8MW solar power plant at its Muttom yard thus enabling the company to meet 51% of its energy requirement through its own solar power plant.
The plant at Muttom was part of the third phase of KMRL’s solar project aiming to tap 5.445MW of power. The project is unique because it taps the potential of open sky space of the metro tracks.
By commissioning the Muttom plant, KMRL has added 9% neutrality to its existing 42% energy neutrality achievement and thus reached 51 % energy neutrality.
Under the first phase, solar panels that could generate 2.7MW were installed on the rooftops of the Metro stations and depot buildings in 2018. With a generation of 37 lakhs units per annum, almost 18% to the total energy requirement was met then.
In phase two, ground-mounted solar panels with a capacity of 2.7MW was commissioned in the KMRL depot in 2019. The average generation of power was about 44 lakh units per annum, which took the energy neutrality up to 30%.
Once the 3rd phase project is completed, KMRL will have a total solar power generation capacity of 10.5MWp which will generate about 147.49 lakh units annually, which constitutes about 55% of the total energy consumption of KMRL.
“The green energy initiative contributes to improvement of the environmental conditions by reducing CO2 emission. KMRL is exploring the possibility of becoming a 100% energy neutral organization. The upcoming plant at Kasaragod would be a step towards the goal,” Behera said.
Source: PTI
