Indian Railway’s plan towards moving to the path of transformation in terms of its source of power is considered to be a long-term mission. Direct supply of energy, especially solar energy to the Indian Railways will work in a way to enable more than around 2 billion passengers to travel on electrified trains, with solar power generations. This is thereafter looked at as a means by which it will save about 7 million tonnes of carbon footprint by a year, as per being proofed in an independent study. As the Indian Railways is looking towards electrifying most of its routes and it has done so in these last 6-7 years. So, with that aim, a UK-based NGO on Climate Trends has found that a direct supply of solar energy in railways lines of India, will help at least about one of the four trains to run without being dependent upon overhead wires with getting connected via a pantograph to secure direct current.
What will be the possible impact?
According to the reports of the study conducted by the UK-based NGO, where it has stated that “the annual report of 2019-2020 of the Indian Railways proves that the rate of passenger traffic of that year meant that around 2 billion of the passengers could travel in trains that will be directly powered by solar energy”. The task of optimization of energy through initiatives like installing HOG (Head On Generation) systems in locomotives along with the installation of LED Lights, charging panels or high-star rated appliances are some of the quite important tasks taking place. Also, tasks like conversion of traction from diesel locomotives to electric locomotives, with a rise in production of electric locomotives or implementing of smart metering techniques and inducting high-power efficient rakes is another step being taken to move ahead.
In this case, the solar panel installations in West Bengal and the Indian Railways have been working on a way to install rooftop solar panels at various stations and the rakes or locomotives can be taken at a strong attempt. By taking up such an effort the railways can to an extent meet to build its non-traction power requirements. In such a way the Indian railways have covered a great attempt at installing solar panels on rooftops of more than 1000 railway stations.
Further plans of the Indian Railways-
The Indian Railways has planned for taking the task of installing the one-of-the-kind hybrid pilot project at Dahod, Gujarat that will connect the railway’s connectivity with the help of the railway traction network. In the first phase, therefore the railway plots have been made open for access to the states which are underdevelopment of the model in the 3rd phase client locomotives with regenerative features. Indian Railways has to a great extent switched over the production of energy efficiency in which the provision of regeneration of electricity energy while using the breaks and use regenerative energy is fed by the back of the grid.
The trailing locomotives carry a huge load of rakes with the help of electricity which is switched off to save energy in case of a multi-faceted unit. Thus, energy consumption is considered to be regularly functioning in a strong manner where it is monitored with the help of micro-processes that are based upon the effectiveness of energy-based meters.
In this case, the solar panel suppliers in Kolkata have to work vigorously with exerting efficiency to enhance the insulation of the 3 phase insulated bipolar transistors propulsion system that will be exerting energy capacity to the suburban area by offering a regenerative braking system that will help in saving of energy to a great extent.
So, as a whole in the entire picture, it can be understood to a great extent in a quite well manner that the Indian Railways, as is moving slowly and steadily on the path of transformation with the help of a step by step process, then there is a way that the Ministry of Railways, Government of India may be looking at wisely. So, the employment and regular and effective use of solar energy can be working in a much more effective manner by providing a tool to the ministry of railways for introducing green and clearer energy sources.