Innovation: 500 kW PV solar plant roof-top plant on Delhi metro (DMRC) station inaugurated

India © GIZ

Innovation: Today the Union Minister of Urban Development, Sh. M. Venkaiah Naidu in the presence of Union Minister of State for Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy, Sh. Piyush Goyal inaugurated a 500 kW solar roof-top plant as first-of-its-kind plant realized on a RESCO business model.

The electricity generated by this 500 kWp PV roof top plant will be used for the power requirements at this station. This is the largest roof top plant with such capacity in the entire Delhi NCR region under the Renewable Energy Service (RESCO) model. As per this model, the developer invests, owns and operates the plant and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) purchases electricity through a power purchase agreement (PPA).

DMRC announced to implement a portfolio of 20 MW solar PV roof-top plants within the next three years. Further systems are already under construction, a tender for 1.5 MW is published.

Efforts are also being made to integrate such solar plants with the station structures of Phase Referring to the DMRC’s commitment to generate 20 MW in the next three years, Mr. Goyal, who also unveiled DMRCs ‘solar policy’, said the transport system should look at fast tracking it to within a year. “I urge the DMRC to generate 20 MW within a year and also to not be dependent on subsidies. We should look into fine-tuning this model and scaling it across all metro stations,” he said. He highlighted the governments strong commitment to develop India to become a world leader in renewable energies and that fast tracking implementation of renewable energies is the most efficient way to mitigate climate change. Minister Goyal spoke about the German experience and both Ministers thanked GIZ for the ongoing support.

India. © GIZ

This solar plant and the development of the DMRC solar portfolio is the result of the cooperation between DMRC and German government owned not-for-profit enterprise supporting sustainable development, GIZ through the project ComSolar which supports commercialization of solar energy in India. GIZ’s Comsolar supported DMRC with solar related technical and economical expertise in close coordination with the Indian Ministry for New and Renewable Energies (MNRE) and additional support through Solar Energy Cooperation of India (SECI).

For Phase-III, DMRC is also in the process of designing its roof structures so that mounting arrangements for solar modules are available from the beginning.

Additional information

India’s first ever solar power plant inaugurated at Delhi: largest roof top plant with such capacity in Delhi NCR