About 40 percent of the energy needs of Nagpur Metro Rail would be met using solar energy if a proposal for the purpose is accepted and finalised.
The Nagpur Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (NMRCL) has plans to tie up with the government of Germany to gain technological and financial support for the proposed project.
NMRCL is considering the development of a cumulative installed capacity of 30 megawatts of solar power at metro railway stations. The company plans to hand over the development of the project to a dedicated developer.
Economic Times, quoting NMRCL managing director Brajesh Dixit, has reported that the German federal government agency GIZ has shown interest in sharing the know-how for developing the solar project.
According to Dixit, the state-owned German development bank KfW was willing to extend a soft loan as well as to provide the necessary technology for the solar project.
European Investment Bank, too, was reportedly studying the proposal.
KfW already funds solar projects in India in coordination with IREDA and the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE).
Other German agencies have also expressed readiness to provide the roughly $473 million needed for metro project.
Teams from German agencies will visit Nagpur later this month if “the French agency – FDA – does not provide 1,500 crore as agreed” Dixit told ET.
According to the proposal, the company that will be roped in to develop the solar installation will initially be free to use the power it generates for its own purposes until the metro project was completed.
Once the project is completed, the solar plant operator will have to supply NMRCL with power for operations, the report says.
The Indian Railways under minister Suresh Prabhu is also working toward introducing renewable energy projects on its wide network. In coordination with Container Corporation of India (CONCOR), the railways have established a 20 kilowatt project at Indore. It will be establishing similar projects at Chittorgarh, Neemuch, and Ratlam in due course.
Ajith Kumar S