Assessment of energy and emissions saving solutions in urban rail-based transport systems
Global warming and climate change are indisputable theories. Since the Industrial
Revolution, the mean temperature of the planet has increased by 1°C. Now, temperatures
are approaching a higher stage of +1.5°C and the attention is on both CO2 emissions and
energy consumption. Transportation is a major component of the environmental impact,
accounting for approximately 30% of air pollution and energy consumption. Due to the
rapid urbanization in the EU, with an estimated 74.3% of the population living in cities,
forecasted to rise to 80% by 2050, urban mobility is dramatically increasing its relevance.
Therefore, a reduction in energy consumption and pollutant emissions is a crucial factor to
consider in developing urban transportation and particularly rail-based systems, able to
provide energy saving transport services by improving urban environment. Several methods
and techniques are under development to improve the energy performance of Light Rail
Transport (LRT), which spread from different typologies of power supply to improving
energy efficiency. The purpose of this paper is to start from the last developments and
innovative energy sources for LRT systems. The focus is on two parts: a) trams running on
Hydrogen in parallel with on board batteries with energy saving control techniques, b)
potential renewable energy sources to meet power demand. The comparison is with
traditional power sources and equipment (e.g. Catenary-based). The methods, based on
selected indicators, are under development and test by calculations and simulations with
reference to the case study of the new tramlines in the city of Brescia (Italy).