A 1st for Rlys: CR to install floating solar panels on lake

Mumbai: The Central Railway (CR) is set to install floating solar panels on Igatpuri Lake, a first for Indian Railways. This initiative will not only generate power but also conserve water.
The railway reservoir at Igatpuri has a capacity to store 1,206 million litres of water over a surface area of 2.8 lakh square meters. The floating solar plant will boast a capacity of 10 MWp.
Floating solar plants efficiently utilize water surfaces, preserving land for agriculture, forestry, and urban development. The cooling effect of water can improve the efficiency of solar panels by reducing their operating temperature.
CR’s Chief Public Relations Officer Swapnil Nila stated, “Covering water bodies with solar panels can reduce water evaporation. Shading the water surface can help control algae growth, thereby improving water quality.”
As part of its goal to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2030, CR has already commissioned 12.05 MWp of solar plants using the rooftops of railway stations and buildings, with 4 MWp added just last year. This resulted in a savings of Rs 4.62 crore in the 2023-24 financial year and a reduction in carbon footprints by 6,594.81 metric tons. Manthan K Mehta