The potential of high-speed rail and urban rail energy storage field

What are energy storage systems for urban rail?

Energy storage systems (ESSs) for urban rail have become an excellent alternative for reusing regenerated braking energy. ESSs can be installed either on board vehicles or at the track side, thanks to the fast development of energy storage technologies and power electronics converters.

Are energy storage systems a problem in urban rail transit?

There are three major challenges to the broad implementation of energy storage systems (ESSs) in urban rail transit: maximizing the absorption of regenerative braking power, enabling online global optimal control, and ensuring algorithm portability.

What is a significant characteristic of urban rail?

Given that numerous and frequent stops are a significant characteristic of urban rail, recuperation of braking energy offers a great potential to reduce energy consumption in urban rail systems.

What affects potential energy recovery in urban rail systems?

The potential energy recovery in urban rail systems mainly depends on the track profile and the frequency of stops.

Can ESSs improve efficiency and reliability in urban rail systems?

The high number of scientific studies, demonstration projects, and commercially available systems demonstrates that Energy Storage Systems (ESSs) can be regarded as a valid solution to improve efficiency and reliability in urban rail systems. From the literature review, it can be concluded that energy savings between 15% and 30% can be achieved by utilising ESSs.

Can urban rail systems save energy?

Yes, urban rail systems can save energy through regenerative braking. Studies have reported energy savings between 3% and 14% for different systems. This is a relatively low-cost measure that could be considered as the first option to increase energy recovery, although its application might be limited by service requirements.