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Indian Railways has launched its first microgrid system with a 4 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at the Central Metro station on the Blue Line, a major achievement for Kolkata Metro Railway and also a first for the eastern region of the country.
Kolkata Metro's Microgrid System
The new system uses inverters and Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) batteries. It is powered by a 6.4 MWh Lithium Iron Phosphate battery. The main aim of this setup is to ensure that critical services continue to operate even during power cuts or grid failures. It can keep tunnel ventilation and environment control systems running. If a train gets stuck between two stations due to a power failure, the system can move it safely to the nearest station.
Why is the Project Undertaken?
Subhrangsu Sekhar Mishra, General Manager of Kolkata Metro Railway, said the project is to maintain smooth services during power disruptions. He explained that if a train is stranded in a tunnel, it can now be hauled to the closest station. The approved total capacity for the project is around 16 MWh. The current 6.4 MWh installation is only the trial phase, and more capacity will be added later.
How is the System Beneficial?
The BESS can pull trains at speeds of up to 55 km per hour from the middle of a tunnel to the next station during emergencies. It can also supply backup power to the entire Blue Line stretch from Dakshineswar to Shahid Khudiram when required.
Besides emergency use, the system will help manage electricity demand and avoid penalties for exceeding the contracted power limit. The project was carried out under the National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell Battery Storage, approved in 2021. Delta Electronics India supplied the system. Kolkata Metro also plans to add solar panels and store solar energy in the future.
