Pune Metro Commissions 4.3 MW Rooftop Solar Power Plant
Pune | Pune Metro Rail Project consists of two corridors, North- South Corridor (Purple line) and East-West Corridor (Aqua line) with a total length of 33.2 KM and 30 stations. Length of the elevated section is 27.2 KM and the length of the underground section is 6 KM. There are 2 maintenance depots, one each at Range Hills and Vanaz.Sections from PCMC to Phugewadi (7 KM) and Vanaz to Garware (5 KM) were inaugurated by Hon’ble PM on 06th March .2022 and on 1st August 2023 Phugewadi to Civil Court (6.91 KM, 4 Stations) and Garware to Ruby Clinic ( 4.75 Km, 7 Stations) were again inaugurated by Hon’ble PM.
The vision of Pune Metro is to establish an energy-efficient Metro Rail System of international standards. This system aims to enhance the quality of life for Pune’s citizens and play a key role in the city’s overall development, making it more vibrant and attractive. Additionally, it seeks to harness the full potential of ‘Green Energy,’ including solar and wind power.
Pune Metro has installed solar panels at 10 of its stations and two car maintenance depots viz., Vanaz, Anand Nagar, Ideal Colony, Nal Stop, Garware College, PCMC, Sant Tukaram Nagar, Bhosari, Kasarwadi, and Phugewadi, as well as at both its depots, Range Hill Depot and Vanaz Depot. Today, on January 25th 2024, the Solar Power Plant at Range Hill Depot was inaugurated by the MD of Maha Metro, marking the commencement of power generation to be utilized for operating the station and depot. Director Works, Shri Atul Gadgil, Director Systems & Operations Shri Vinod Agrawal, Executive Director O & M Shri Rajesh Diwedi, Executive Director Admin & PR- Dr.Hemant Sonawane along with Shri. Anup Jhamtani & Shri Virendra Bhagwat from Jhamtani Prosumers Solar pvt ltd were also present during the inaugural ceremony.
The first solar plant with a capacity of 200 kWp was installed at Sant Tukaram Metro Station in February 2022, and soon Pune Metro will predominantly operate on green electricity. The 4300 kWp solar plant is expected to generate 7 million units of electricity annually, resulting in savings of huge reduction in Co2 emissions. M/s. Jhamtani Prosumers Solar Pvt. Ltd. installed the solar plant under the RESCO mode for Pune Metro, and they will operate it for the next 25 years. The project utilised best-in-class solar modules. Before the commissioning of the solar panels at Range Hill Depot IWB (758 KWp), the average energy export was approximately 1000-1300 units/day. Since the commissioning of the solar panels at Range Hill Depot IWB (758 KWp) on January 20th, 2024, the average energy export has increased to approximately 4300 units/day.
The daily average power generation through solar panels is 15557 units (kWh). Thus Rs.6.53 cr. savings in power bill per annum.
On this occasion, Shri. Shravan Hardikar, MD Maha Metro said,” Maha Metro is committed to generate as much green energy as it can. This will help in environment conservation and reducing the pollution”.
