Aiming at reduction of carbon emission by using clean energy, Indian Railways has embarked upon a renewable energy action plan as part of the national policy to address the impact of climate change.
According to the action plan, all zonal railway offices, divisional headquarters and Railway ministry headquarters will now have solar power systems to light up the premises.
"The lights at the corridors and control rooms of these offices will draw power from solar panel," a senior Railway ministry official said. Solar panels will be installed at 44 divisional railway manager offices, he added.
While solar geysers will be installed at railway hospitals and running rooms at 115 places, solar street light systems are to be provided at all railway training centres across the country. Railway's Oak Grove School near Nainital will also have solar lights at its campus.
"Solar power is being used at a few level-crossings, but we will now expand the solar network to many more crossings which do not have electricity," the official said.
Railways is also installing a 10-MW wind-power project near Kanyakumari at an estimated cost of Rs 60 crore (Rs 600 million).
An average wind speed of 14 miles per hour is required to convert wind energy into electricity. One wind turbine can produce enough electricity to power up to 300 homes.
According to the Kyoto protocol, all governments are required to initiate concrete action to reduce carbon emission to save the climate.
The national action plan on climate change also focuses on renewable energy to mitigate global warming and reduce greenhouse gas emission.
Railways, which consumes about 2,500 MW electricity per day, spends about Rs 5,500 crore (Rs 55 billion) annually for electricity. It has earmarked Rs 28 crore (Rs 280 million) for the solar project, which aims at generating 440 kw per day.
