The Mumbai Metro is set to go green from this week, harnessing solar power for meeting part of its electricity requirements. As part of its second anniversary celebrations on June 8, the Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd., a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure Ltd., will install rooftop solar panels at all 12 stations on the route, and at four locations at the metro depot.
The entire solar power-generating system will have an installed capacity of 2.3 MW, of which about 2 MW will be produced from the rooftop installations and the remaining from the panels at the depot. The electricity generated will be utilised for non-traction use like lighting, air-conditioning, and maintenance.
“The Mumbai Metro’s auxiliary power requirements for non-traction use is 6.9 MW, of which 30 per cent will be met with solar energy once the system is up and running. The work on setting up rooftop solar panels will begin soon and take about six months to complete,” a company spokesperson said.
As part of the green initiative, LED lamps will be installed at the depot, administrative buildings and stations, and are expected to cut the consumption on lighting by half. Mumbai Metro One has also cut down its water consumption for cleaning compartments by 90 per cent from an earlier 200 litres to just 20 litres per train. This was achieved through a durable epoxy coating on the train floors, which repels dust and dirt, and is easier to wash.
The entire solar power-generating system will have an installed capacity of 2.3 MW
