First of its kind, Indian Railways contributes its share in clean energy! Know how!

New Delhi, July 25: Imagine if Indian Railways get access to solar panels for electricity in its coaches! Well, in an attempt to enable the power supply to the coaches through solar energy, the Indian Railways for the first time, is renovating its passenger trains with flexible solar panels.

The idea to fit in solar panels will be an added benefit for the Indian Railway systems. This will operate fans, light and mobile charging slots on the coaches. Developed by the Indian Railway Organization for Alternate Fuels (IROAF), such solar panels were earlier fitted in DEMU trains last year.

After the success of these coaches, the solar energy can also be harnessed in the railway’s main line coaches for the comforts of the common man.

With the target in mind, Member Rolling Stock (MRS) or Railway board has directed IROAF to fit Solar PV Panels on the rooftop of four passenger trains which face the problem of run-down of batteries due to slow running of trains.

Such fitment of solar panels has started to operate in Sitapur-Delhi Rewari Passenger train. These panels are lightweight and easy to fit and most of these panels have been manufactured in India by CEL Ltd.

It is expected that each such coach will generate between 15 to 20 units (KWH) of electricity per day. The total weight of the solar panel on these coaches is approximately 120 kg. Along with generation of electricity, these coaches are also fitted with sensors which will monitor parameters of the solar energy being generated.

IROAF plans to fit solar panels on 250 coaches on DEMU and passenger trains, the official said. Out of this, IROAF will undertake the fitment of flexible solar panels in three more passenger trains which face the problem of poor battery charging due to slow running.

These trains are 54255/56, Varanasi – Lucknow via Pratapgarh, 54334/33 Lucknow – Varanasi via Faizabad, and 14203/04 Varanasi – Lucknow Intercity.