Mumbai: Western Railway (WR) is making significant strides in its commitment to sustainability by expanding its solar energy footprint across its network. The railway zone has installed solar panels with a total capacity of 13.08 MWp at 229 locations, including 136 stations and 93 service buildings, sheds, and workshops, spanning all six of its divisions.
The divisions benefiting from these installations are Mumbai Central, which has 50 sites, Vadodara with 35, Ratlam with 60, Ahmedabad with 16, Rajkot with 34, and Bhavnagar with 34. This expanded solar capacity translates to a carbon absorption equivalent to approximately 525,000 trees, underscoring WR’s commitment to environmental sustainability. The Increased use of solar power is part of WR’s broader renewable energy initiative, which has resulted in significant savings in energy costs and a reduced carbon footprint. During the fiscal year 2023-24, WR’s solar installations generated 12.36 million units (MU) of electricity, reducing carbon emissions by over 9,888 tonnes and saving approximately INR 6.43 crore.
As of August 2024, in the current fiscal year, WR has already generated 5.82 MU of solar energy, which has further reduced carbon emissions by 4,655 tonnes and led to savings of around INR 3.33 crore. In addition to these installations, Western Railway has deployed various solar-powered systems, including solar water heaters, solar street lights, and solar panels at level crossing gates, enhancing its use of green energy resources. Plans are underway to maximise solar plant installations across all WR buildings to further contribute to India’s mission to reduce its carbon footprint. Western Railway’s ongoing efforts align with the Indian Railways’ ambitious target of achieving “Net Zero Carbon Emission” by 2030. Through these measures, WR is taking proactive steps towards increasing the use of renewable energy sources and advancing environmental conservation.
