A 2,670 KW photovoltaic (PV) solar plant was inaugurated on Tuesday at Kochi metro’s operation control centre at Muttom by A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish, managing director of Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL).
In Phase I of the metro, solar power was planned to be generated from rooftop plants being installed at 22 stations and the Muttom depot. The planned capacity of the rooftop project is 4 MWp.
KMRL has adopted the method of Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) model, where the vendor would invest the capital cost of nearly ₹32 crore and carry out operation and maintenance while KMRL would sign a power purchase agreement and buy the power from the vendor at an agreed rate.
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Financial assistance
The rooftop project contract was awarded to M/S Hero Solar Energy (P) Ltd. at a cost of ₹5.51 per KWh of energy drawn, for the next 25 years. KMRL has received a part of the Central financial assistance of 15% of the total project cost for the rooftop project from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
KMRL, in 2017 has commissioned, 2,148 KWp of solar capacity. Further, a capacity of additional 522 KWp is installed and ready for commissioning which will enhance the capacity of solar power plant to 2,670 MWp. Until April 2018, KMRL has generated solar energy of 17.66 lakh units.
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Energy use
As on April 2018, KMRL is consuming 53,948 KWh units per day. In the same month, KMRL generated 8,411 units from the solar plant per day. This works out to 15.59% share of the metro’s energy consumption.
The capacity addition will enhance the share of solar energy to 19.4% of the total consumption.
Further, KMRL is exploring the possibility of installing solar power plant in all the possible areas including the other metro infrastructure/installations.
Muttom depot is constructed with 3-km approximately long compound wall surrounding the depot. Similarly, the viaduct is of 26-km length and the sides of the viaduct could be fitted with solar panels.