A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish, managing director of Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) on Tuesday inaugurated a 2,670 KW photovoltaic (PV) solar plant on Tuesday at Kochi metro’s operation control centre at Muttom.
According to TH under the phase I of the metro, solar power was planned to be generated from rooftop plants being installed at 22 stations and the Muttom depot. The planned capacity of the rooftop project is 4 MWp.
The publication notes that KMRL has adopted the RESCO model, where the vendor would invest the capital cost of nearly Rs. 32 crore and carry out operation and maintenance while KMRL would sign a power purchase agreement and buy the power from the vendor at an agreed rate.
Hero Solar Energy (P) Ltd bagged the rooftop solar project at a cost of Rs. 5.51 per KWh of energy drawn, for the next 25 years. KMRL has received a part of the Central financial assistance of 15% of the total project cost for the rooftop project from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).