Mysuru: The grid-connected photo-voltaic (PV) facility power project commissioned at Mysuru Central Railway Workshop is said to be first of its kind in Indian Railways. The installation of 500 KWp solar rooftop system at the workshop of South Western Railway (SWR) not only saves energy, but also money.In 2015, the then railway minister had outlined a road map for reducing the use of fossil fuels and switching over to non-conventional energy in a phased manner to reduce the workshop's carbon footprint and to improve financial efficiency. Accordingly, the workshop was given a target of installing 500 KWp solar power systems over the roof of its different sections.The project was taken up on Design-Build-Finance-Operate-and-Transfer (DBFOT) basis. The project has been implemented by a private player from whom the railways buys power for a period of 25 years under a power-purchase agreement that specifies a constant tariff. At the end of 25th year, the solar power plant will be transferred to the railways.Speaking to TOI, Neeraj Jain, chief workshop manager, Central Workshop (Mysuru south), SWR, said: "The plant has been set up over 3,218 sqm area covering rooftops of different sections of the workshop. It consists of 1,562 solar PV modules that collectively produce 500 KWp of energy. This caters to the energy needs of the workshop. Excess power is fed to the grid operated by Cesc under a power purchase agreement."Explaining the savings, the manager said the plant helps them save about Rs 15 lakh in the first year, and the figures will improve over the subsequent years. "The green energy generated and exported to the grid reduces energy consumption and carbon footprint," he added.

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