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SCR goes green; 20 railway stations get solar panels
The South Central Railway (SCR) upped the ante in going the green way. In a bid to reduce power woes, SCR installed solar panels in about 20 railway stations in Secunderabad division in the past seven months and is already reaping benefits.
Hyderabad: The South Central Railway (SCR) upped the ante in going the green way. In a bid to reduce power woes, SCR installed solar panels in about 20 railway stations in Secunderabad division in the past seven months and is already reaping benefits.
While solar energy to electrify train coaches can substantially reduce its carbon footprint, using solar panels at stations too can effectively reduce operational costs.
Operating water pumps at several stations consumes lot of power and solar panels are bringing down the power bills to a great extent. At present solar panels are being used to operate water pumps at Kazipet, Warangal, Ghanpur, Raghunathapalli and Jangaon railway stations in Secunderabad division.
It is for the first time in the country that solar power is being used in railway stations for operating water pumps and station lights
By using the electricity generated by the solar panels, there is a saving of four units of power per hour
Solar power is harnessed to operate pumps in 48 locations across SCR
SCR installed solar panels in about 20 railway stations in Secunderabad division alone
Solar powered water heaters totaling 36 are in use at retiring rooms in railway stations
30 kw solar panels were installed at Sanchalan Bhavan in Secunderabad and there is already a reduction of five per cent in electricity bills
At Kazipet railway station, two units of 5 kw and 7.5 kw are generating enough power to operate water pumps at five locations.
By using the electricity generated by the solar panels, there is a saving of four units of power per hour and the water pump capacity is 5 hp. The panels have been installed at Railway School, DSTE office and near the railway quarters.
M Gopal, senior divisional electrical engineer (Maintenance wing), Secunderabad says, “By going solar the benefits are on the long run. The Return on Investment (ROI) would take four years but after that the returns would be high.
While solar power is in use in different zones, SCR is the first to use sun’s energy in powering the water pumps and lighting stations.” In all, solar power is harnessed to operate pumps in 48 locations across the SCR. Solar-powered water heaters totaling 36 are in use at retiring rooms in railway stations.
The life of solar panels is 25 years and the equipment was supplied by HBL Solar. Last year, 30 kw solar panels were installed at Sanchalan Bhavan in Secunderabad and there is already a reduction of five per cent in electricity bills. According to rough estimates, a 3kw panel saves 6,500 units per annum and a 5kw unit saves 10,500 units per annum.
In all SCR installed close to 25 3kw panels across the zone, at Bellampally Road it installed a 15-kw solar plant and a 10 kw unit at Bhadrachalam. In the last seven months, solar units were installed at Bellampally Road, Kagaznagar, Sirpur town, Ramagundam, Janmikunta, Bhadrachalam, Karepalli, Khammam and other places.
By: T P Venu
