South Western Railway is in the midst of an exciting new solar energy project. Set to launch in August, the project will use 135 solar panels on land near the station to generate electricity that never reaches the grid. It will connect directly into the railway system and be used as traction current to power the trains only.
Solar-powered trains are nothing new. What is unique about these trains is the specific use of solar panels. As this is the first project of its kind it will serve as a sort of case study. If it works out well, larger solar projects in the same vein could be installed in the future.
This demonstrator project, called “First Light”, is by Riding Sunbeams in collaboration with a number of groups, including climate change charity 10:10. Funding is coming from Innovate UK and the Department of Transport.
Ollie Pendered, Riding Sunbeams’ executive director, said in a statement:
We are very excited to be installing the world’s first project to directly power railway lines with solar energy at Aldershot station. We hope this pilot scheme paves the way for the railway industry, and the UK, becoming zero-carbon.
Amelia Woodley, South Western Railway’s head of sustainability, said:
The rail industry plays an important role in reducing carbon emissions. SWR has reduced its emissions by 33% over the last 12 months and are continuing to install renewables, and other technologies, to cut our carbon emissions by 60% overall within the next five years.
With the recent passing of net zero emissions legislation in the UK, there’s never been a better time to partner with the Riding Sunbeams to change the way the rail industry responds to this global challenge.
The results from this project could very well guide Riding Sunbeams future goals. The organization plans on connecting “the world’s first-ever, full-scale, community- and commuter-owned solar traction farm to the railways by 2020.”
There are currently over 5,500km of electrified tracks in the UK and a major electrification program is going to build or convert hundreds more in the coming decades. Anywhere along approximately one-third of this network that uses the direct current (DC) traction power system has the possibility for direct connection. That means there are thousands of potential new sites that have previously been out of bounds to new renewables.
Furthermore, there is great potential that this project could spread across the globe. For example, India can surely power its railways directly with trackside solar. This happening would be a huge contribution to the global project of keeping fossil fuels in the ground. If the “First Light” project proves feasible, the teams next step will be to prove the global concept with a handful of real-world pilot projects.
The First Light team said:
Our vision here is to bring local people, commuters and rail employees together to crowdfund investment in these pioneering projects, sharing the financial rewards of progress in the low carbon transition as widely as possible.
