Now, solar panels atop Indian Railways' passenger trains to power fans, lights
New Delhi, July 25: The Indian Railways is doing its bit to conserve the environment and lessen the carbon footprint by deciding to fit solar panels on its passenger trains. The total weight of solar panels, which would operate fans, light and mobile charging slots, on each of these coaches could be around 120 kg.
It is expected that each such coach will generate between 15 to 20 units (KWH) of electricity per day. Such fitment of solar panels has started to operate in Sitapur-Delhi Riwari Passenger train, a PTI report said.
Developed by the Indian Railway Organization for Alternate Fuels (IROAF), such solar panels were earlier fitted in DEMU trains last year.
After the success on these coaches, it was felt that solar energy can also be harnessed in railway's main line coaches for the comforts of common man, a railway official said, as per a PTI report.
"With this target in mind, Member Rolling Stock (MRS)/ Railway board has directed IROAF to fit Solar PV Panels on rooftop of four passenger trains which face the problem of run down of batteries due to slow running of trains," he said.
Such
fitment
of
solar
panels
has
started
to
operate
in
Sitapur-Delhi
Riwari
Passenger
train.
These
panels
are
light
weight
and
easy
to
fit
and
most
of
these
panels
have
been
manufactured
in
India
by
CEL
Ltd.
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, the official said.
OneIndia News with PTI inputs