The Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday that the Indian Railways have proposed to harness 1000 megawatt (MW) solar and 150MW wind energy by 2020. The Minister of state for railways Manoj Sinha has said in a written reply that a total of about 50MW renewable energy capacity has been installed till date.
Manoj Sinha has also added that installation of 6.5MW is in progress and for about 50MW solar capacities, request for qualification (RFQ) has been issued by zonal railways and further mechanism will be put in place include signing of memorandum of understanding between railways and ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE), finalization of model bid documents for rooftop solar power plants with the financial support of MNRE.
Meanwhile the zonal railways have floated tender documents for installation of solar rooftop plants at railway premises is made based on these model bid documents.
In railways such renewable energy plants are being put up in an economical manner to reduce the cost of energy with viable gap funding from ministry of new and renewable energy.
