In News:

Indian Railways has taken a major step towards achieving its net-zero carbon emission target by 2030 with the commissioning of India’s first removable solar panel system between railway tracks at Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW), Varanasi in August 2025.

About the Project

• Length of Installation: 70 metres
• Number of Panels: 28 removable panels
• Capacity: 15 KWp (Power density: 240 KWp/km; Energy density: 960 units/km/day)
• Special Feature: Panels are removable, enabling easy maintenance, emergency clearance, and seasonal adaptation.
• Design: Indigenously developed to be installed between tracks without disrupting rail traffic.

Technical Specifications of Panels

• Dimensions: 2278 mm × 1133 mm × 30 mm
• Weight: 31.83 kg per panel
• Type: 144 half-cut mono crystalline PERC bifacial collar cells (multi-bus bar)
• Efficiency: 20.15%
• Maximum Voltage: 1500V; Open Circuit Voltage (Voc): 49.71V

Significance

• Green Energy Transition: Promotes sustainable transport by reducing dependency on fossil fuels and cutting carbon footprint.
• Innovative Space Utilisation: Uses the space between tracks, avoiding land acquisition. Potential estimated at 3.5 lakh units/year/km of track. With IR’s 1.2 lakh km track length, the scalability is massive.
• Economic Efficiency: Supports auxiliary energy needs of railway units, lowering operational costs.
• Replicability: Being a pilot project, it serves as a model for adoption across Indian Railways.

Other Recent Railway Developments

• Green Logistics: In August 2025, the first salt-loaded freight rake from Sanosara (Bhuj–Naliya section) to Dahej carried 3,851.2 tonnes of industrial salt over 673.57 km, generating ?31.69 lakh in freight revenue. This initiative boosts regional industry and expands rail freight solutions.
• Electrification Innovation: Western Railway commissioned the country’s first 2×25 kV Electric Traction System at the Nagda–Khachrod section (Ratlam Division). Powered by two Scott-connected 100 MVA transformers, it enhances efficiency in overhead equipment (OHE) supply, marking a leap in electrification infrastructure.

Broader Context

• Indian Railways is rapidly expanding its solar adoption strategy, aligning with the National Solar Mission and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG-7: Affordable and Clean Energy).
• This innovation aligns with India’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement and helps advance the country’s energy transition pathway.