Two contracts have been awarded to Siemens Mobility to look into the possibility of using solar energy to power the UK trains, along with its partners, the University of York and British Solar Renewables.
The company will complete the last stages of technical development for feeding solar energy directly to trains under the terms of the first contract. The engineering mismatches that have prevented renewable energy from fuelling 25 kV trains all across the world will be addressed by this feasibility study.
Through Innovate UK’s First of a Kind programme, the Department for Transport is funding the project.
It is anticipated that it will assist in demonstrating the solar power of trains running on the East Coast Mainline this year. The second contract will investigate the likelihood of setting up a charging station and how it would make it easier to charge on-train batteries in non-electrified locations. In accordance with their location on the network, it will also assist in creating green routes for trains that are electric or battery-powered. Electric trains are anticipated to replace diesel trains nationwide as a result of this procedure.
Rob Morris, managing director of Siemens Mobility’s rail infrastructure, stated: that transportation in Britain contributes for 27% of carbon emissions, and electrification of the country’s rail network is crucial to transform passengers’ regular commutes and quicken the transition to net zero. This research may revolutionise the way electricity powers UK trains, allowing for the possibility of a widespread switch to green electricity throughout the country, decreasing prices and creating a plethora of new job possibilities at the same time.
Last month, Siemens Mobility ended up getting a €900 million order to supply a turnkey metro system for the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport project in Australia.
