Solar Panel Installation Completed at Kochi Metro’s Muttom Depot
Hero Solar Energies yesterday completed installing panels for a 2 MW solar plant at Kochi Metro’s Muttom Depot as part of the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd.’s green initiative to meet a part of its power requirements through renewable energy. This is the first of many solar projects in Kochi Metro’s pipeline with small solar plants for another 2 MW planned across its 22 stations followed by a larger 4 MW plant at the depot for which a Detailed Project Report is currently being prepared by Pune’s World Institute of Sustainable Energy (WISE).
As per Kochi Metro’s 2015-16 annual report, the project at the depot is being implemented through the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) Model. Under this, Hero Solar Energies will invest about 27 crores, perform all operations & maintenance, and supply power to Kochi Metro for a price of Rs. 5.51 per unit for 25 years. To kickstart the project, the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) under its Central Financial Assistance (CFA), has provided financial assistance for 15% (around Rs. 4.8 cr) of its cost.
Photo Copyright: KMRL
Photo Copyright: KMRL
Photo Copyright: KMRL
Photo Copyright: KMRL
Similar plants have been installed at Delhi’s new depots at Kalindi Kunj, Mukundpur as well as Chennai Metro’s Koyambedu Depot. The plant in Kochi is expected to go live before the end of this month.
For more updates, check out the Kochi section of the The Metro Rail Guy!
– TMRG
Good implementation
Good news! Solar energy on such scale should be implemented across the country – not just metros but also at government offices, industries, homes and everywhere else. That would considerably reduce energy dependency, make solar power cheaper (due to scale) and lead to sustainable development. It is good that the current central govt. is supportive. We need clean energy to become dominant by implementing One panel at a time.
Exactly! thats what the Kochi airport has done too. They have covered most of the off-runway areas into fields of solar panels and the entire airport’s energy needs are met. Way to go Kerala!