India got its first solar-powered local train on Friday. launched by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, who termed it a "path-breaking leap" towards making Indian trains more environment-friendly, the train has a battery bank facility to ensure sufficient power even in the absence of sunlight.
Even the lights, fans and information display system will be met by energy produced by solar panels fitted on the roof of coaches of the DEMU (diesel electric multiple unit) train. The lighting needs are normally taken care of by a diesel-driven generator in DEMU trains.The train was launched at the Safdarjung railway station here and the first rake will be put in commercial service over the suburban railway system of Delhi division shortly. The route will be decided soon.
While the 1,600 horsepower train has been manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, its solar system and panels have been developed and fitted by the Indian Railways Organisation of Alternative Fuel (IROAF). In the next six months, 24 more coaches will be fitted with this system within six months.
Prabhu said it was trying to increase the use of non- conventional sources of energy.
The carrier is taking several other environment friendly measures like using bio-toilet, water-recycling, waste disposal, bio-fuel CNG and lNG, and harnessing wind energy.
The IROAF has developed this system with a smart inverter which optimises power generation on a moving train to cater to full load even during night hours with the help of a battery bank which ensures sufficient electricity.
The system reduces diesel consumption and the carbon signature of these commuter trains by reducing CO2 generation by 9 tonnes per coach per year.A solar power DEMU train with six trailer coaches will save about 21,000 litres of diesel and thereby save costs of Rs 12 lakh every year, the railways said.