Running metro entirely on solar power would require policy, infra changes: BMRCL

Bengaluru: A recent IISc study has found that the upcoming Namma Metro Blue Line could meet its annual energy needs entirely through solar power generation. 

However, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) said such a transition would require policy changes and infrastructure upgrades.

The study, titled ‘Assessing the Potential of Directly Using Solar Power to Run the Operations of Blue Line of Namma Metro’, examined whether the nearly 55-km airport corridor connecting Central Silk Board and the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) could operate using solar energy generated on BMRCL-owned land.

The Blue Line, scheduled for completion by December 2027, is projected to become one of Karnataka’s largest public infrastructure electricity consumers with an annual demand of 152 GWh under full operations, the study stated.

It found that solar panels installed on station rooftops, depot rooftops, station canopies, and viaduct structures could generate enough electricity to offset the corridor’s yearly energy demand.

The report estimated that an installed solar capacity of 83.3 MWp would be sufficient to achieve full annual energy coverage.

The findings stated that nearly 30 MWp of rooftop solar capacity could be integrated immediately without modifications to the existing traction system, grid upgrades, battery storage, or land acquisition.

The first phase alone could offset 36.5% of the corridor’s annual energy consumption.

Currently, the BMRCL generates about 15 MW of solar energy through panels installed on station rooftops, Director (Rolling Stock, Signalling and Electrical) Sumit Bhatnagar told DH.

“Soon, with the integration of the Pink Line, we will take it up to 20 MW. The BMRCL has been using solar power to provide energy to the stations, in addition to the electrical grid. So, the concept is not new. But for solar power to completely operate a metro line, we will need both policy and infrastructure changes,” he said.

Bhatnagar said existing policy caps do not allow the BMRCL to store excess solar power generated.

“At the end of the day, we will be dependent on Bescom, even if we increase our dependency on solar power. However, we can use solar power to reach net zero energy consumption,” he added.

Currently, each metro station produces about 300 kW of solar energy per day on average. For the study’s proposal to be implemented, stations would need to generate 1 MW, Bhatnagar said.

The study estimated the first phase, focused on station rooftops, would cost between Rs 48 crore and Rs 63 crore, with a payback period of under two years.

Over the project’s lifetime, savings exceeding Rs 2,600 crore are projected.

Cleaner commute

The study also highlighted environmental benefits, stating that full-scale deployment across the Blue Line could reduce nearly 78,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually, equivalent to removing around 19,000 petrol cars from the city’s roads.