Indian Railways Says 'Surya Namaskar': Installs 3,275-Panel Solar Project At Rail Wheel Plant In Bihar

In a boost to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's solarisation mission, a 1,000 KW grid-tied rooftop solar PV power plant at Rail Wheel Plant (RWP) in Bela in Bihar was installed on Public-Private-Partnership model.

The state-of-the-art grid connected solar PV system at RWP Bela is installed on vacant reinforced cement concrete (RCC) and corrugated metal sheet on the rooftop by solar power developer Hibiscus Energies.

The Solar PV system with 3,275 solar panels will generate green power which will not only reduce the electricity bill but also help in meeting to such extent the Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) currently being mandated by the Electricity Regulatory Commission.

The PPP model envisages a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for 25 years in which Rail Wheel Plant would execute a rooftop solar generation project including operation and maintenance of the system for a period of 25 years after commissioning of the project, on Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis.

Inaugurated by the RWP's Chief Administrative Officer Shubranshu,
this is the first solar power project in Bihar which is being funded by the World Bank along with State Bank of India and has latest Mono passivated emitter and rear cell solar modules manufactured by Axitec India (a German technology) and Inverters of Delta Electronics India.

"Indian Railways supports and promotes green energy and this solarisation initiative of Rail Wheel Plant at Bela is in-line with the solarisation mission of our Prime Minister. The Railways is pushing for solar energy in a big way by installing solar on all buildings, stations and also along the barren land available along rail tracks," Shubhranshu said.

The grid connected Rooftop Solar PV System will help in long-term energy security and ecological security by reduction in carbon emission and better management in day-time peak loads.

The solar project is expected to save CO2 emissions of approximately 33,000 tonnes in 25 years.

The Rail Wheel Plant was inaugurated in 2008 and is manufacturing cast steel wheels for railway wagons. The facility comprises over 165 acres of land and provides employment to 1,000 people.