Kochi: Ever since the government announced its decision to revive Athirappilly hydel power project, a campaign has been gaining traction in social media urging the Kochi Metro authorities to put up solar panels along the Metro corridor "that could act as substitute for the proposed hydroelectric project". The Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL), though, clarified that it was not possible to set up panels everywhere and that they have taken steps to harness maximum solar energy from the modern transportation system.
The latest initiative is to set up solar panels at its unused plots in Muttom Metro yard that will be used only at a later stage. “The detailed project report for the 4 megawatt solar power project will be prepared soon and the tender documents are getting ready. We estimate that we can set up solar panels in a 40,000-sq m land,” said a senior KMRL official. KMRL has already announced that it would install solar panels above every Metro station besides the buildings at the Muttom yard.
“The KMRL would place solar panels on the rooftop of 22 stations and the buildings in the Metro yard. The installation capacity of the roof top project is four MW. The project is being implemented through Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) model, where the vendor would do complete investment of nearly Rs 27 crore as well as the operation and maintenance while the KMRL will buy power from the vendor,” the official said.
However, the official clarified that it is not possible to install solar panels in between stations or over pillars. “Why can't we put up solar panels over every pillars of the Kochi Metro? The same could produce the power that the government aims to generate by reviving the small hydro-electric project at the eco-sensitive Athirappilly,” asked Arun Asokan in his Facebook post.
