TÜV is investigating which PV applications can be used to feed electrical energy directly into the rail power grid. It will also determine how much solar energy can increase the share of renewable energy in the railway electrification system. Railroad technology and photovoltaics experts from TÜV Rheinland are working on the project on an interdisciplinary basis.
“If it turns out to be possible to generate energy along the widely ramified railway electrification system and feed it in directly, thereby making better use of existing infrastructure and reducing energy losses through multiple conversion and transport, the rail mode of transport could further improve its greenhouse gas balance,” explained Jürgen van der Weem, rail technology expert at TÜV Rheinland and lead on the project.
Examples of photovoltaics on or in rail infrastructure include track-integrated PV modules in the track bed and PV modules attached to or integrated into noise barriers. Compared to conventional PV systems, a particular technical requirement is to feed the generated electricity directly into the railroad’s single-phase, 15-kilovolt overhead network.
TÜV Rheinland experts are implementing the project in three work packages. The first work package involves market research into PV systems relevant to railroads. Here, TÜV Rheinland will systematically examine the PV systems relevant for use on or in the rail infrastructure, including all the necessary components that are also required for direct feed-in. The investigation will include PV systems that are available worldwide, as well as systems that are already being or have been tested on or in rail infrastructure.
Based on these results, TÜV Rheinland will quantitatively record the PV potential in the second work package. It will determine the existing areas on and in Germany’s rail infrastructure that can be used for applications, as well as the feed-in power and energy that can be generated there.
This is based on publicly available sources such as the databases of Deutsche Bahn and mapping of radiation intensity. From the data compiled in this way, it is possible to deduce the expected energy yields. In addition to direct feed-in to the traction power grid, the experts will also consider close-to-generation internal consumers in the rail sector.
The third work package deals with the requirements for PV systems, especially from a railroad engineering perspective. The relevant railroad regulations will be named and, if necessary, concrete recommendations will be given for necessary adjustments due to the integration of PV systems on and in the rail infrastructure, taking direct feed into account.
Finally, TÜV Rheinland will identify possible barriers, restrictions, and synergies. The overall project has a duration of 14 months.