Mumbai To Get Solarized – Sea Link And Metros To Run On Solar

Mumbai to use Energy from the Sun to Power The City

Mumbai is all set to get solarized in the coming months. The city has decided to use solar energy to power two of the most important means of transport in the city. The first one is the Bandra-Worli Sea link and the other one is the upcoming Mumbai Metro Rail. Solar panels will be used for lighting and also for running air conditioners at these sites. Solar energy has been used to power various means of transport in India. A number of airports in India now run completely on solar power. Then there was a project to run metro trains in Delhi from solar power in Madhya Pradesh. The Indian Railways too is considering supplying power to the railways using solar energy. A trial run was conducted on a non-AC coach of the Indian Railway, with solar panels on its rooftop surface. Plus solar powered cars, boats, even pod-taxis are on the go!

Now let’s take a look at what the central state of Maharashtra is up to. Maharashtra is amongst the top five states in India with the largest solar installations. Still the state is finding new means to go green. It is commendable to see solar energy become so mainstream. If every state thinks like this it will reduce its expenditure on power and there will be a sustainable supply of power through alternative energy sources.

The Bandra-Worli Sea Link or Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link is a 5.6 km long bridge that links Bandra in the Western Suburbs of Mumbai with Worli in South Mumbai. It started functioning since 2009. The bridge will be illuminated using solar panels at both ends of the sea link. This will not only reduce the electricity costs but will also fulfill the state’s green obligations. A total of as much as 60% of the total electricity expense which is currently around Rs 1.10 crore annually is expected to be cut down. The power from these solar panels will light up 50 street lights on both sides along the sea link including office, toll booths. This project is expected to be live from this April.

Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) also has plans to use solar energy to power part of the 33.5-km Metro project which is under-construction. It plans to use solar energy at the sub-stations – Science Museum, Dharavi and Aarey Colony along the Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ line. Rooftop solar technology will be used at these sites to supply power the metro and also to these sub-stations. The main challenge here in using solar energy to power Metro 3 is the fact that this metro is completely underground.  To overcome this challenge solar panels will be installed on the rooftop of its office building in BKC for the lighting purpose. MMRC will also resort to net metering for selling the extra power generated and thus save more on its electricity bill. The installation is expected to be complete this March.