The Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has signed a power purchase agreement with a private firm for 4 MW of solar power for the metro service which is scheduled for commissioning in the first half of next year.
Solar panels having an installed capacity of 4 MW would be placed on the rooftop of 22 station buildings in the Aluva-Pettah metro corridor. The work has been awarded to Hero Solar Energy (P) Ltd.
The project was being implemented through Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) model, where the vendor (private firm) would invest nearly Rs. 27 crore and also oversee the operation and maintenance. KMRL will buy power from it by paying Rs. 5.51 per unit for a 25-year period. This was the lowest rate at which any metro project in India was getting solar power, said a KMRL press release.
As per the agreement, the installation of panels and allied materials should be completed in nine months. The KMRL received Central financial assistance of Rs 4.80 crore – 15 per cent of the project cost from MNRE. This money would be given to the company.
KMRL is also planning to use another 40,000 square metre area at the coach maintenance yard in Muttom to generate solar energy, said Elias George, MD of the metro agency. The Power Purchase Agreement was inked on Tuesday by Rajendran A.R., general manager (rolling stock and electrical of KMRL, and Shriprakash Rai, general manager (business) of the firm.
