Indian Railways installs first removable solar panels on tracks

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𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐬 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞. The pilot project involves installing removable solar panels on the sleepers—the support beams beneath the tracks. Commissioned on Line No. 19 of the BLW workshop, the initiative uses an indigenously designed installation procedure to mount solar panels without disrupting train traffic. The panels can also be removed easily whenever track maintenance is required. Now this is really a very innovative solution that the Railways want to experiment with. But there are practical points which need to be considered if the solution is to be scaled up. 1. 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐬 - especially considering that trains dump waste on tracks (older coaches) plus dirt and grime from surroundings. 2. 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲/𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 after they are removed for maintenance and refixed periodically. 3. 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 of these panels considering that these tracks are unmanned. How can theft be prevented? 4. While the space used is an innovative thought, there are plenty of other spaces that can be used like Coach Rooftops. Power can reduce consumption from grid. While it's really heartening to see such an initiative and out of box thinking from the railways, these practical issues need to be thought through and sorted out. Else we will be left with an idea which will die before it reaches mass adoption stage. No wonder we have not seen such an idea being executed anywhere else in the world (or perhaps with limited success). #Indianrailways #renewableenergy #carbonemissionreduction #greenenergy #netzero

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Aneesh Issar

Business-driven ESG, ESG integration, ESG Maturity Xcellence and ESG-Xcellerator point solutions

1w

There is also the challenge of pedestrians and stray animals when scaled... A half thought through solution can be along... do this in parts... Say a couple of kms in and out of the station not the desolate stretches, let the solar power the station and subsidise the community and provide employment locally for cleaning, RMO... and that could help address the stealing and more responsible public behaviour... Stakeholders engagement and sustainable development if you want fancy keywords 😊

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