According to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, a comprehensive plan has been developed to modernize Pakistan’s railways, and as part of that plan, seven railway stations will have solar panels installed that meet international standards in order to reduce electricity use.
According to the announcement, it has been determined that 45 offices and railway stations in major cities, including Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Multan, and Sukkur divisions, will have solar panels installed with a budget of Rs 40 million.
The Pakistan Railway, according to sources, has chosen three sites in Peshawar, five in Rawalpindi, twenty in Lahore, four in Multan, five in Sukkur, three in Quetta, and five in Karachi divisions for the first phase.
After this project is successfully completed, solar panels will reportedly be erected at additional train stations across the nation, according to the sources.
The Water and Electricity Development Authority’s main grid station will receive the extra electricity these solar panels produce, nevertheless.
Indeed, the possibility for railway lines will increase thanks to solar panels. Alternative energy sources are being used to generate and conserve electricity.
Nazia Jabeen, director of the PR Railway, had previously announced that the project would cost about 450 million Pakistani rupees. According to data provided by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), Pakistan now has a capacity of little under 2 GW and aims to reach 12.8 GW by 2030.
She went on to say that solar energy systems and LED lighting would be installed, saving an additional Rs 28.92 million annually.
Additionally, the project’s capacity has been assessed at 2308 kilowatts, with 3.2 million units produced annually at a 20 percent efficiency.
In contrast, after the project is finished, railway stations will be able to save over Rs 52 million yearly which would otherwise be spent on diesel generator fuel and maintenance.
According to the officials, Pakistan Railway will save Rs. 70.62 million annually as a result of the cost differential between solar energy and WAPDA electricity. The total route length of the Pakistan Railway is just over 11,000 km.
In the neighboring nation of India, the government has promoted rooftop solar by utilizing the extensive rail network. That guarantees that all railways are solar-powered and aids the government in making enormous energy savings.
Solar energy is the best energy source to use effectively, in fact. Due to Pakistan’s ongoing energy crisis, the government has found it challenging to manage or control the situation.
It has problems not just at the industrial level but also at the home level. Installing solar panels aids in preserving electricity and conserving energy, which will assist the government in balancing power at all levels.
Solar panels are widely available, and currently, several businesses are giving a variety of packages to make the installation process easier for their clients. As it is the most effective natural source for producing electricity.