Uttar Pradesh
Varanasi: India's First City to Install Solar Panels Between Railway Tracks
- 19 Aug 2025
- 2 min read
Why in News?
Varanasi is the first city in India to install portable solar panels between railway tracks, promoting sustainable energy.
- This pilot project at Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) supports Indian Railways' goal of reducing its carbon footprint and achieving net-zero emissions.
Key Points
- About: The installation features solar panel system spanning 70 meters of railway track, with 28 panels of 15 kWp capacity, generating 880 units per kilometre daily and a power density of 220 kWp per kilometre.
- Panel Design: The solar panels are removable for easy maintenance and seasonal adaptation, mounted on sleepers with an indigenously designed installation procedure to ensure secure and safe attachment without disrupting train traffic.
- Rubber mounting pads reduce vibrations from passing trains, epoxy adhesive secures the panels, and the space between tracks eliminates the need for extra land acquisition.
- Environmental and Operational Impact:
- Energy Generation Potential: The scheme is expected to produce an estimated 3.21 lakh units per kilometre per year.
- Indian Railways Network: With a track length of 1.2 lakh km, this technology has the potential to be deployed extensively across the network, especially on yard lines.
- The solar panels complement existing rooftop solar power plants installed within BLW premises, further strengthening Indian Railways' renewable energy commitment.
