PR to switch 155 railway stations to solar power
Pakistan Railways (PR) will shift its 155 railway stations to solar energy under the direction of the government to use alternative environment-friendly energy resources. PR Public Relations Director Nazia Jabeen stated on Monday that total cost of the project would be Rs450 million.
She added that the PC-1 of the project ‘Solarisation and Commissioning of 155 railway stations’ had been approved and tender of the project would be presented after the Budget 2021-22.
Giving the details, she further said that 81 railway stations would be equipped with backup of eight hours after solarisation of the entire electric system.
She said that 22 railway stations would be shifted to solar energy where computer based inter-locking system was working.
As many as 22 railway stations would be converted to solar energy where only two hours backup would be provided whereas 52 railway stations would be solarised where no backup would be provided, she highlighted.
She elaborated that total production capacity of the project would be 2,308 kilowatts and 3.2 million units per annum with 20 per cent efficiency to be produced in a year. "The project life will be 25 years and total 83 million units of electricity will be produced."
After installation of the project, the railways would save Rs52 million annually which was spent on fuel and maintenance of diesel generators.
The official said that PR would save Rs70.6 million per year due to the tariff difference between solar and WAPDA electricity cost.
She explained that LED lights along with the solar energy system would be installed which would also save Rs28.92 million per annum.
The backup period of the project was four to five years and during this period it would complete its cost and after that the project would save millions of rupees for railways, she concluded.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 1st, 2021.