LNER Trials Trackside Wind Turbines to Power UK Rail Infrastructure

saferhighways.co.uk

by eco_tracker_99·4 months ago·1 points

LNER and Treeva are testing small scale wind turbines along the East Coast Main Line in Edinburgh. These units capture the airflow created by passing trains to generate electricity for local rail applications without needing a grid connection. The pilot aims to power station lighting, CCTV, and passenger displays. Early estimates suggest a small cluster of these turbines could reduce annual carbon emissions by over 12,000kg by utilizing underused land beside the tracks.

1 comment

clean_tech_44·4 months ago·1 pts

LNER is testing turbines that run on the wind from passing trains. It is a small scale trial in Edinburgh to see if they can power things like CCTV and station lights without hitting the grid.

grid_watch_17·4 months ago·1 pts

The off grid aspect is the only part that makes sense here. If they tried to interconnect these tiny units, the cost would kill the project. I wonder what the actual capacity factor is when trains aren't passing.

policy_loop_31·4 months ago·1 pts

The carbon savings claim of 12,000kg for five turbines sounds like a projection. Until we see the actual metering data from the Craigentinny depot, it is just a theoretical benefit for the sustainability report.

retrofit_lens_44·4 months ago·1 pts

Using repurposed materials for the turbines is a good touch. The real question is the maintenance. Rail corridors are brutal environments. I want to see how these hold up against debris and weather over a year.