In a first, Delhi Metro to set up rooftop solar power plants

The Delhi Metro, already much praised for the efficiency of its construction and operation, is now going for another first by setting up solar power plants on the rooftops of its buildings.

The first 500 Kwp (kilowatt peak) 'rooftop solar power plant' is being installed at Dwarka Sector 21 metro station and is expected to be functional in six months, according to The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

According to a DMRC statement on Sunday, it has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) on with the developer, a multinational firm engaged in the installation and production of solar power worldwide, for installing the plant. It did not specify who the developer was.

This is the largest roof top plant with such capacity in Delhi-NCR region under the 'renewable energy service company' (RESCO) model.

Under this model, DMRC will pay for the units generated by the plant and the capital investment will be provided by the developer. The power produced from this plant will be used to cater to the power requirements of DMRC at this station.

''After the installation of this roof top plant, Delhi Metro will also explore the possibility of installing more such plants at its stations, depots, parking lots as well as residential complexes,'' DMRC executive director, corporate communications, Anuj Dayal said.

Efforts are also being made to integrate such solar plants with the station structures of Phase II, he added.

Delhi Metro has already taken up a slew of measures oriented towards the conservation of environment and the use of renewable means of energy.

In 2011, DMRC was certified by the United Nations (UN) as the first Metro Rail and Rail based system in the world to get Carbon Credits for reducing Green House Gas Emissions as it has helped to reduce pollution levels in the city by 6.3 lakh tons every year thus helping in reducing global warming.

DMRC's first Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project on regenerative braking had also achieved many international firsts apart from earning valuable foreign exchange for the country.