With Tesla leading the shift from fossil fuels to renewable alternatives in the west, countries in Asia are also adhering to this changing trend. With the recent announcement of solar projects, Pakistan has also joined the race of increasing its renewable energy capacity.
India too has shifted its focus on the subject and has recently rolled out its first train with solar panels installed on the rooftops of coaches.
Solar Powered Appliances
Make no mistake, the train’s engine will still be powered by diesel. What has changed is the source of energy for the electrical appliances inside the coaches themselves.
Lights, fans, entertainment systems and other small electric powered devices will be shifted to the renewable power source. This may seem insignificant but in reality it does make a massive difference.
Sixteen panels are installed on a single coach. A train with six of these solar powered coaches can save roughly 21,000 liters of fuel worth approximately 19.5 lac Rupees.
This is just with a single train mind you. If this system is widely adopted, it could save millions of rupees and also would be great for the environment.
Challenges
The managing director of Jakson Engineers – the firm behind the technology – says that the installation of these panels is not as simple as just slapping them on the rooftops and be done with it.
It proved to be a challenge for the engineers to fit the panels in such a manner that they could resist the high resistive forces due to the train’s speed of over 80 kmph.
The retrofitting of a single coach with this solar energy system costs a significant 14.7 lac Rupees. In other words, applying the system on six coaches makes up for the initial cost in less than 5 months.
The added benefit of less pollution and greater power savings in the long run clearly outweigh the initial cost.
Opportunity for Pakistan Railways
Pakistan is also working on its railway system’s refinement. Recently a plan to install solar powered traffic signalling system was announced by Pakistan Railways which can alert train drivers of any activity on the track 3.5 Km beforehand.
This is good step forward but we require bolder moves. Moves like the one India just made. Our engineers are more than capable to do the same if not more. A step like this will truly breath a new life in Pakistan Railways. However, the tracks, coaches and the whole system needs a lot of work before the department can truly take off and become profitable.
Via Quartz
Haha you know what you are talking about?? you forgot how much corruption they did in Qaid e azam solar plant? politicians of Pakistan are thieves
Ssshhhh…. Nahi tou shairr ajaye ga.
As if establishment and third empire doodh kay dhulay hain,
sabhi aik thailay kay chattay battay hain,
barian lagi hui hain sab ki, my dear friend
politicians hi in ko late hain phir chutey hone per rote hain
When train will stop interior then solar panel will be removed just
an hour :)
Had a worst experience with Railways when I went to reserve business train tickets at Karachi Cantt recently. The staff at KHI Cantt is insane, horribly rude and extremely non-cooperative. They don’t even bother to respond if you ask for any kind of information. I hope they replace the incapable staff with those who are needy and willing to work.
Assalamoalaikum, my name is Ghulam Sarwar Raja i living in UK Bradford I am a Gas safe Engineer,Electrical domestic and commercial,Solar photovoltaic,and Wind turbine Engineer,we can make organic compost for farming,organic Silage feed for cattles,we got idea grow trees and graft the trees, we can make cemint block we can teach peoples young and old peoples for the industry Pakistan government can gives us tax-free 5years on my business,duty-free on my product,solar panels,windturbines,on tools transport, Honey beekeeping tools,Tree grafting tools,compost.and Silage feed making tools Pakistan visa long terms for my business peoples government can give us a cesurity Pakistan Bank can give us a 10 years loan intrest-free [email protected] Email,[email protected] email,[email protected] mob,07957692573 Pakistan goverment can give us a fund for training for we can train peoples for industry we can inshaAllah genrates a 100,000 jobs for Pakistan god be with Pakistan best whisher Ghulam Sarwar Raja please call me.