"It would be the first such initiative in the country to further ensure commuters' safety and improve energy consumption," stated a Metro spokesperson.
India's oldest Metro service, the Blue Line, will integrate an innovative system combining inverters and Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) batteries.
ACCs represent advanced energy storage technologies capable of storing electric energy as electrochemical or chemical energy, then converting it back to electric energy when needed.
In 2021, the Union Cabinet approved the National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell Battery Storage, allocating a budget of over INR 18,000 crore. Kolkata Metro is the first among all railway zones and metro systems in the country to utilize this technology.
"This is aimed at strengthening the eco-system for electric mobility and battery storage," the spokesperson added.
Numerous international companies expressed interest in collaborating with Kolkata Metro for this project. After an open bidding process, the Indian subsidiary of a Taiwanese multinational company secured the contract last month, he said.
The new system is designed to generate electricity that can move trains with passengers at 30 km/h speed from mid-tunnel to the next station in the event of a power failure, including a national grid failure.
"This is indeed a huge advancement as passenger-packed trains won't have to wait in underground tunnels or on viaducts for restoration of power supply in case of a disruption of power. Thousands of passengers can be brought to safety with the help of this system," the spokesperson remarked.
Equipped with green batteries that have an approximate lifespan of 14 years, this new system requires about 106 square meters of space for installation.
It promises to reduce the carbon footprint with enhanced energy efficiency, long life, and compact installation, while avoiding the health and fire hazards commonly associated with acidic or alkaline batteries.
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