Days after the Delhi Government warned of power cuts due to coal shortage, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Tuesday said that the Metro operation needs account for only 2.5 per cent of the total power requirement of the city.
“DMRC receives around 2 MU (million unit) electricity from power distribution companies of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. “Around 0.9 MU power is received from the on-site solar power plant through open access. Further, 0.1 MU is drawn from the rooftop solar power plants installed on Delhi Metro's stations and depots,” said a DMRC spokesperson.
“Also, in case there is a total breakdown and all grids fail, we have back-up arrangements, like batteries, inverters, DG sets to provide power to system, to evacuate passengers out of trains and stations, but trains won't operate in that condition," he told the reporters.
Another senior official said Delhi Metro's requirement on an average, per day, is about 200 MW, out of which 99 MW is received from solar power system in Rewa, and another 50 MW from DMRC's solar power system on rooftops of its buildings, and rest from discoms. "Solar power can be used only during daytime or in sunny weather, and for after dark, our operational requirements need to be supplemented," he said. Also, the DMRC has about 28-29 substations, so even if one substation fails, there are other options, the official said.
"Generally a long Metro line has four substations. Even if one of those reports failure, power supply will be made from other substations," the spokesperson said.
In emergency situation, DG sets will be used for supplying power to important operation-related tools and equipment such as lights, signalling equipment, lifts and fire fighting load, etc, he added.