Mumbai: Western Railway ke renewable energy experiment ko bada setback mila hai. Mumbai suburban network ke Bandra-Khar aur Naigaon-Vasai Road sections par lagaya gaya wind-solar hybrid pilot project assessment ke baad band kar diya gaya.
Is pilot ka aim wind aur solar dono sources ko combine karke electricity generate karna tha. Dono locations par 4 kWp ke hybrid systems lagaye gaye the, jisme 2 kWp solar aur 2 kWp wind capacity thi.
Lekin performance assessment mein saamne aaya ki project ne conventional solar benchmark ke comparison mein 49.44% kam power generate ki. May 2023 se January 2025 ke beech system ne total 8,793 kWh electricity generate ki.
Sabse bada surprise cost ko lekar tha. Hybrid system ki installation cost lagbhag ₹2.43 lakh per kWp estimate ki gayi, jabki conventional solar ki cost around ₹50,000 per kWp thi — yani hybrid system ka cost kareeb 4.86 times zyada tha.
Project mein battery storage bhi use ki gayi thi, jiske liye regular monitoring aur replacement ki zarurat padti thi. Assessment ke baad lower generation, high capital cost aur battery maintenance ko dekhte hue pilot ko viable advantage nahi mila aur ise close kar diya gaya.
Yaani renewable energy ka idea promising tha, lekin is particular pilot mein power output aur cost dono ne Railway ke liye challenge khada kar diya.