Yuhua Nan Lu bus station shall become the first in Nanjing to turn itself into a full-scale, solar power energy base for electric buses.
The project shall see the installation of 4,000 square metres of solar panels onto the roof of the station, which are expected to generate 280,000 kWh (kilowatt hour) of electricity annually.
Any surplus power produced can be put back into the national grid for sale; an additional benefit that is expected by the end of this year, when the project goes into full operation.
The initiative is extremely important for Nanjing, and for public bus groups, as a visible implementation of the concept of green low carbon development.
After completion of the project, the bus station is predicted to save 100 tons of standard coal annually, that would otherwise send 282 tons of carbon dioxide and four tons of nitrogen oxide skyward.
Future projects shall see solar power used in other public transport charging facilities, allowing electric vehicles more space for a clean recharge.
By 2021, the city hopes to have implemented an “all green” concept, by replacing all existing buses with electric versions.
