Hyderabad Metro: HMRL To Increase Solar Power Capacity To 12 Megawatts, To Reduce Carbon Footprint

About 13 stations and depots of the Hyderabad Metro of Telangana will soon have rooftop solar power plants installed as part of the state's green energy policy.

Amp Energy India and L&T Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) have signed a contract for the construction of solar plants with a combined capacity of 4 megawatts (MW). This project is a public-private collaboration between the Telangana government and Larsen & Toubro Limited.

Amp Energy India is the Indian arm of the Amp Energy group, which is located in Canada.

The Hyderabad Metro currently includes 66 stations in three routes and three interchange stations.

For HMRL, Amp Energy had previously built a 7.8 MW solar facility to supply solar energy to its 24 stations and two depots. On 26 December 2020, the first phase of the solar facility was completely operational.

Additionally, rooftop solar power systems by Amp Energy India have been erected in the parking lots for the L&T Metro Rail.

The proposed 4 MW would increase L&T Metro Rail's solar plant's capacity to 11.8 MW. About 37 metro stations would be powered by solar energy once the 4 MW solar power plant project is complete.

The power purchase agreement (PPA) with Amp Energy for solar power procurement is for 25 years and will generate 11,300 MW of green energy per year.

The Hyderabad Metro Rail Project will use solar energy supplied by Amp Energy to meet 15 per cent of total electrical consumption.

According to officials, the solar energy facilities will enable the L&T Metro to significantly reduce its energy costs.

Representatives of the corporation claim that the project is difficult because it spans several locations and only necessitates a brief period of nighttime work at operating metro stations.

Hyderabad Metro-Green Metro

Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) is the world’s largest public-private partnership (PPP) project in the metro rail sector. 

The Hyderabad Metro Rail Network will cover a total distance of around 69.2 km across three corridors:

• Corridor I: Miyapur to LB Nagar

• Corridor II: JBS to MGBS

• Corridor III: Nagole to Raidurgam

The Hyderabad Metro's stations are based on the various norms laid down by the Indian Green Buildings Council. The stations have been designed to consume less power and make use of natural lighting and wind conditions.

Rolling stock too has been designed to consume lesser power. The railway stations themselves are designed with minor gradient changes that act as a natural brake while entering stations and give a slope while exiting the station.