Metro to set up rooftop solar panels at 8 stations
Going green in its second year of operations, Jaipur Metro has decided to set up rooftop solar panels at eight elevated stations on its 9.25-km-long corridor between Mansarovar and Chandpole. The power generated by 200-kWp ‘Rooftop Solar Power Plant’ will be used to meet the requirements at the stations and would reduce its dependence on non-renewable sources. JMRC director (operations) C S Jeengar said, the Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited has finalised Hero firm to install the rooftop solar panels which will maintain it for next 25 years. “JMRC received a proposal from the Centre under its scheme to install the rooftop solar panels. Now, the state has to send its final approval after that work for installation will be started,” said an official.
As per the model for the rooftop plant, the developer invests, owns and operates the plant while JMRC purchases the electricity generated through a power purchase agreement. “The JMRC will purchase electricity for Rs 5.37 per unit for next 25 years. At present, the electricity consumption of one Metro station is approximately 1,200 units per day. The rooftop solar panels will generate approximately 600-700 units and it would cater half of the demand.” According to officials, about 10 square metre area is required for 1 kilo watt solar rooftop systems. The metro stations have sufficient area to install these 200-kWp ‘Rooftop Solar Power Plant’.
The Jaipur Metro would be the first department in the state to install rooftop solar panels under Centre government’s ambitious scheme. Central government has set a target for installation of one lakh megawatt (MW) solar power plants by 2022. Out of this, about 40,000 MW has to come from grid connected solar rooftops systems. Centre wants Rajasthan to play an active role in installing solar rooftops systems. Since the announcement of the target in 2014, Rajasthan was among the pioneer states to have released net metering (two-directional energy meter) policy. But the response of discoms and consumers has been lukewarm due to the high set-up cost.
Source: TOI
