In a move to become 100 per cent environmental friendly, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will phase out thermal energy and switch to solar power by 2021.
DMRC aims to solar power all its 271 stations in the next two years. On an average DMRC consumes about 1,100 million units of electricity annually. In 2018-19, approximately 22.6 million units of energy were generated by the rooftop solar plants resulting in savings of 20,850 tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide emissions, a media news report stated.
Besides rooftop solar power received, DMRC will be receiving 27MW of solar power from Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited in Madhya Pradesh from April 2020 at a cost of Rs 2.97 per unit for 25 years. With this inter-state open solar deal, the metro rail corporation will also be procuring more than 345 million units of electricity during the contract period. The energy received from the Rewa solar project will be soon increased to 99 megawatt.
DMRC started its solar journey in October 2012, by signing an MoU with GIZ, Germany. It has been making all possible efforts to contribute towards National Solar Mission target of producing 175 GW electricity from renewable sources by 2022.
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd has set the target to install 50 MW Solar PV Plant on flat / curved roof of the stations, Train Depots and other buildings owned by DMRC by 2022, and till date has commissioned 32.4 MW on DMRC premises.
Since April 18, 2019, DMRC has become the first metro to procure solar power from the 750 MW plant located on RESCO basis through an Inter State Open Access arrangement, where the complete installation cost of solar plant will be borne by the solar developer and DMRC will have to only pay for the energy generated by these plants at a rate as agreed in power purchase agreement.
The power received from Rewa is being utilised for all the operational requirements of the Delhi Metro, including the operation of the metro trains.
