An Indian Railway Station Runs 100% on Solar Power

Guwahati Railway Station is solarized

Guwahati is ranking high on Google search results – no not for a vacation/ holiday, but for becoming the first North Eastern railway station to run 100% on solar power.

After Cochin’s international airport (CIAL) becoming the world’s first airport running completely on solar power, India achieves yet another feat. Its Guwahati Railway station becomes the first of its kind to run completely on solar power. The 700 kW plant was commissioned in April 2017. More than 2300 solar panels are installed over the roof of the Guwahati railway station at a total cost of over INR 6.5 crore.

Image Credit: The Financial Express

Solar power plants in railway stations and airports have successfully reduced the electricity bills. The solar plant at the Guwahati railway station is also expected to reduce the expenditure by INR 67 lakhs. The North Eastern province has set up a big example for other Indian railway stations to follow. Going solar has become a major target for the Indian railways and airports.

We have been hearing about many instances in India, wherein these institutions have opted to go solar. The Railways Minister had even announced that the trains in the future will be powered by solar power. The Railways is also planning to install 4.5 kW of flexible solar panels on the roofs of train coaches. The Indian Railways has plans to deploy as much as 5000 MW of solar energy by 2025. It is also exploring by directly buying cheap solar power from large-scale utility solar power plants just as the Delhi Metro Station has done in the case of the Rewa solar park in Madhya Pradesh.

We hope to come across more such encouraging news in India. Going solar will not only reduce the carbon footprint but also result in excessive savings. Going green is the need of the hour and it is high time that we start prioritizing investments in this direction.