DMRC, world's first rail project to earn UN's carbon credits

Jan 05:  The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has cornered another glory by getting position in the United Nation's green list under clean development mechanism (CMD) in which DMRC can claim to earn carbon credits that can be transformed in to a handsome amount for the next few years. DMRC has become the first rail project in the world to earn carbon credits because of using regenerative braking system in its rolling stock.

DMRC can now earn certified emission reductions (CERs) by registering a project based on regenerating braking under United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the UN's Projects for saving environment and can claim for carbon credits that can be later transform into a robust amount by selling its carbon credits to another companies which has no CERs or unable to reduce carbon emissions.

“DMRC can now claim 400,000 CERs for a 10-year crediting period beginning December 2007 when the project was registered by the UNFCCC. This translates to Rs 1.2 crore per year for 10 years�, said Anuj Dayal, Chief Public Relations Officer of DMRC on Friday.

“There are several trains of Indian Railways that use converter-inverters, but they have not registered with the United Nations so far. Therefore, DMRC has become the first ever railway system to register and claim carbon credits,� added Dayal.

“This is also the first Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)-funded official development assistance (ODA) loan project in the mass rapid transit sector to be able to claim carbon credits.�, said DMRC chief PRO. In fact the entire processing of getting registration in UN's green list took a period of over a year after going through several procedures with the support of Japan Carbon Finance that provided $95,000.

“DMRC will use this money in equalizing the additional investment and operation costs attracted by implementing the project activity and stimulating research and development to reduce emission of green house gases and to give extensive training to train operators for optimum regeneration�, said Dayal.

Besides on Metro rail, DMRC is also eyeing beyond those commuters who have not shifted so far in metro and yet commutes in buses and cars by making aware them that tail-end emissions of such vehicles contribute to global warming.

Carbon credits are generated by using cleaner technology that reduce energy consumption which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and DMRC has earned the carbon credits by using regenerative braking system in its trains that reduces 30 per cent electricity consumption.

Whenever a train applies regenerative braking system, the released kinetic energy starts a machine known as converter-inverter that acts as an electricity generator, which supplies electrical energy back to the Over Head Electricity (OHE) lines. This regenerated electrical energy that is supplied back to the OHE that is used by other accelerating trains in the same service line, explained DMRC officials.