Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) is set to source 40% of its power requirements from solar energy, for which it will commission a 2,719-kW capacity solar farm located on the marshy land abutting the metro coach maintenance yard at Muttom on Monday. The new solar panels have been placed in an area of four hectares adjacent to the yard.
For over a year, the metro agency has been sourcing another 2,719 kW of power from solar panels kept atop 13 metro stations and at the yard.
Plans are afoot to install more solar panels at stations, especially over test tracks.
The combined 5,438-kW power will result in the KMRL relying 10% less on power supplied from the KSEB sub stations at Kalamassery and Kaloor.
Efforts are under way to enhance the reliance on solar power to 60% by 2020.
At present, KMRL produces 5,389 kW electricity from its plant at Muttom and the solar panels erected over 13 metro stations.
KMRL also has plans to source power from a solar farm for the fleet of 78 ferries that will be procured for the Water Metro project.
