Northeast Frontier Railway’s Big Solar Energy Push in Assam and Tripura
The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is working hard to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and achieve zero carbon emissions by 2030. They have installed rooftop solar power plants across various service buildings and stations, generating 1.45 million units of energy and saving approximately Rs 97.9 lakh from April to June 2024.
NFR’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Sabyasachi De, highlighted the significant savings and environmental benefits of these initiatives. He mentioned that the solar rooftop panels installed at various stations and service buildings have generated a cumulative of 6764 Kilowatt Peak (kWp) power till June 2024. The total installed capacity in different divisions includes:
| Division | Installed Capacity (kWp) |
|---|---|
| Katihar | 610 |
| Alipurduar | 381 |
| Rangiya | 1066 |
| Lumding | 1020 |
| Tinsukia | 190 |
The headquarters complex of NFR and the Guwahati Sub-divisional unit have a combined installed capacity of 1497 kWp. Additionally, the two workshops at New Bongaigaon and Dibrugarh each have an installed capacity of 1000 kWp.
From April to June 2024, 24 stations and other field office buildings in Assam and Tripura were fitted with solar rooftop panels, generating 642 kWp. Major stations like Udaipur, Bamunigaion, Azara, Gohpur, Barpeta Road, Dudhnoi, and Krishnai were also equipped with solar panels.
Moreover, 2100 energy-efficient BLDC fans were installed, saving 32 watts per fan, resulting in a total savings of 67200 watts and 806 units of energy consumption.
NFR plans to continue installing solar plants on all feasible station buildings, service/office buildings, residential buildings, and LC gates. Sabyasachi De emphasized that these efforts not only help meet daily power needs but also save money and foreign exchange for the country.
Doubts Revealed
Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) -: NFR is a part of Indian Railways that operates in the northeastern part of India, including states like Assam and Tripura.
Solar Energy -: Solar energy is power that we get from the sun. It is a clean and renewable source of energy, meaning it doesn’t run out and doesn’t pollute the environment.
Fossil Fuels -: Fossil fuels are energy sources like coal, oil, and natural gas that come from the remains of ancient plants and animals. They can pollute the air when burned.
Zero Carbon Emissions -: Zero carbon emissions mean not releasing any carbon dioxide (a harmful gas) into the air. This helps in fighting climate change.
Rooftop Solar Power Plants -: These are solar panels installed on the roofs of buildings to capture sunlight and turn it into electricity.
Units of Energy -: A unit of energy is a way to measure how much electricity is used or produced. One unit is equal to one kilowatt-hour (kWh).
Rs 97.9 lakh -: Rs 97.9 lakh is a way to say 9.79 million rupees, which is a lot of money saved by using solar energy.
Chief Public Relations Officer -: This is a person who talks to the public and the media about what an organization is doing. In this case, Sabyasachi De is the person doing this for NFR.
Energy-efficient fans -: These are fans that use less electricity to work, helping to save energy and reduce electricity bills.