SOLAR ROOF PROPOSAL DMRC

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, was working on a proposal for integrating solar roof panels on the existing and new DMRC stations. The exercise was carried out to present the extensive opportunities available to DMRC for generation of clean energy from the abundant urban spaces at its disposal in the form of roof spaces on stations, yards, parking lots and other properties.

GIZ invited Adreesh Chakraborty to help them integrate their proposal to the architectural and structural systems used at the various structures made by DMRC.

An estimated 52 MW of generating capacity could be installed if all the present stations, future stations and other ancillary areas under DMRC could be utilized.

The design intervention lay primarily in transforming a purely engineered over-layer of photovoltaic panels to an urban image that would not only enhance the visual experience of the industrial curved roofs of the stations, but would also become an icon for DMRC to propagate itself as a responsible and conscious service provider with an eye for urban aesthetics. The panels were designed to breathe in life to the dormant form of the roofing structure as a manifestation of the function of being live and producing electricity as long as the sun shines on them.

The challenge lay in designing a light, cheap, effective, construction friendly and highly flexible structural system that could plug onto existing stations without having to ever stop operations and would also help the solar panels face the sun from any possible alignment. A light structural system was developed that could be clamped onto the existing metal portal frames where they were exposed and keep the existing roofing free from any intervention, thus reducing chances of leakages and ensuring smooth functioning of the stations.

For a case study of an existing station was taken up.  After analysis of the best annual exposure to the sun and the alignments of the station the over layer was conceptualized for optimum performance.

The new stations were proposed with panels incorporated into the roofing structure to form a transparent roof shaded by the array of the Photovoltaic cells. This in turn would also increase day-lighting at the stations.

Collaborators: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Arbutus Consultants Pvt. Ltd.