Railways To Launch First Train With Solar Power-Backed Coaches On July 14
The railways ministry is launching on Friday the first diesel electric multiple unit (DEMU) broad gauge train, which will have coaches powered by solar energy, AK Saxena, public relations officer in the ministry, told BloombergQuint.
The coaches will also have a battery bank which will optimise solar energy to full load and provide power at night, he said.
This first rake (group of coaches) has been based at Shakur Basti DEMU shed of Northern Railways and 24 more coaches will be fitted with this system within the next six months after completing the field trials, Saxena added.
The prototype solar hotel load system fitted on each coach is of 4.5 kilo Watt power (kWp) capacity consisting of 16 solar panels of 300 Wp each. The system is capable of developing up to 20 kWh per day (average) through out the year. The train has been commissioned in cooperation with Integral Coach Factory at Chennai.
Normally, DEMU trains provide power for its passenger comfort systems from a diesel driven generator fitted on its Driving Power Car. Railways has developed this system with a smart maximum power point tracking inverter which stores power generation of a moving train to full load even during the night.AK Saxena, Public Relations Officer, Ministry of Railways
The system helps in reducing diesel consumption of the train and hence reduces carbon dioxide generation by 9 tonnes per coach per year.
“A solar power DEMU train with six trailer coaches will save about 21,000 litres of diesel, and thereby, bring cost saving of Rs 12 lakh every year. Savings for a 10-coach rake with eight trailer coaches will increase proportionately,” he added.
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