Bombardier's Environmental Technologies Help Delhi Metro Achieve World-First under United Nations-backed Climate Change Initiative

Bombardier Transportation's technologies are helping Delhi Metro to achieve an impressive world-first linked to environmental performance by becoming the first railway project in the world to receive valuable carbon credits for regenerative braking.The Bombardier Movia
metro trains used by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) incorporate the advanced Bombardier Mitrac propulsion system and regenerative braking, which can generate up to 30 percent in energy savings. This environmental technology has contributed to Delhi Metro earning more than 20 million Indian Rupees - the equivalent of $446,000 US (308,000 euro) — under a United Nations-backed initiative to combat climate change.

Within the United Nations Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), the Delhi Metro Rail Corp. has claimed Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) — normally referred to as carbon credits. The CDM enables emission-reduction projects to earn carbon credits, each equivalent to one tonne of CO₂. These carbon credits can then be traded and sold, thereby stimulating sustainable development and emission reductions. Through the sale of carbon credits over two years as part of the scheme, Delhi Metro has received the cumulative remuneration of 20 million Indian rupees. The initiative has also led Delhi Metro to become the first railway project based on regenerative braking to be registered by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Anuj Daihal, chief public relations officer of DMRC said: "We are extremely proud of our achievement in improving the energy efficiency of our metro system and becoming the first railway project to benefit from this important UN initiative relating to climate change. Bombardier Transportation has supported us by supplying modern, highly energy-efficient trains, which are also greatly appreciated by the travelling public for their comfort and convenience."

He added: "The money earned from the sale of carbon credits will be used to offset the investment and operation costs in the implementation of our extensive network development, as well as furthering our efforts in combating climate change."

As part of a major expansion of the Delhi metro rail network, Bombardier Transportation is supplying 538 Movia metro cars to the Delhi Metro Rail Corp., with more than 410 already in revenue service.

The Movia metro trains supplied to Delhi Metro are state-of-the-art stainless steel vehicles, including many modern features, such as air-conditioning and electronic information systems and also feature the Mitrac technology. Its regenerative braking system feeds energy back into the network, where it can be used by other trains in the same service, thereby creating significant energy savings.

The success of the Movia metro train is acknowledged by many city transit operators around the world, with more than 3,900 Movia metro cars ordered globally to date. Bombardier's expertise is proven as a major supplier of metro cars worldwide transporting over 7 billion people every year in cities including New York, Montreal, Toronto, Paris, London, Berlin, Bucharest, Stockholm, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, New Delhi and many others.

From its first phase completion in 2002, the Delhi metro network has grown to six lines covering 130 stations, serving not only the Delhi area but also the neighbouring areas of Gurgaon and Noida where a large number of Delhi's population either live or work. In addition to a reduction in pollution and traffic levels, the travel time for most Delhi commuters has been eased by an average of 75 per cent.