This new record set by Delhi Metro is powered by solar energy. Know how

DMRC will be the first metro to procure solar power on RESCO basis, where the complete installation cost will be borne by the developer and DMRC will pay for the energy generated

New Delhi: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) set a record on Thursday as it ran its first metro that was fully powered by solar energy. On the same day, the public sector undertaking (PSU) started receiving solar power from Rewa Solar Power Project. DMRC received 27 MW power from the project based in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday and it is expected to gradually increase to 99 MW. The power received from Rewa will be utilised for operational as well as auxiliary requirements of the Delhi Metro.

Till now, the solar power generated by the rooftop solar plants installed in DMRC premises were utilised for auxiliary requirements such as lighting and air conditioning of stations, depots etc.

DMRC will receive 345 MU of power from Rewa

On an average, about 345 million units (MU) of power will be received from Rewa in a calendar year. In 2018-19, Delhi Metro consumed about 1,092 MU of power for its operations.

Apart from the power received from Rewa, Delhi Metro generates about 28 MW of solar power through a number of rooftop solar power projects which have been installed on Delhi Metro's stations, residential colonies and depots.

A solar-powered run on Delhi Metro

To mark the beginning of this new arrangement, DMRC's Managing Director, Dr Mangu Singh travelled on a Metro powered by solar energy on Thursday, along with Manu Srivastava, Chairperson, Rewa Ultra Mega Solar, Upendra Tripathi, Director General, International Solar Alliance and other senior officials from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Station to Central Secretariat on the violet line.

About Rewa solar power plant

Rewa Ultra Mega Solar is a solar power plant in the Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh, with a total solar plant capacity of 750 MW. It is one of the largest single-site solar power plants in India and the world.

In 2017, DMRC had signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to procure 345 Million Units (MU) per annum from Rewa at Rs 2.97 per unit in the first year (at Levelised Tariff of Rs 3.30 for 25 years). DMRC will be the first metro to procure solar power on RESCO basis as Inter-State Open Access Consumer, where the complete installation cost of solar plant will be borne by the solar developer and DMRC will have to only pay for the energy generated by these plants at a rate as agreed in the power purchase agreement.