Page 88 - European Energy Innovation - Summer 2015 publication
P. 88
Summer 2015 European Energy Innovation
RAIL TRANSPORT
Boosting the attractiveness and
sustainability of rail transport with
collaborative European rail research
By Andy Doherty, Chairman, ERRAC
As demands for efficient a majority of medium-distance in the rail system as it enables
mobility grow, urban passenger transport should traction power, heating, comfort
populations surge, and go by rail. In support of such and other operational needs.
concerns of climate ambitious targets of the Transport As the European rail system is
change mount; rail transport White Paper, ERRAC published mostly electrified, R&D in this area
is becoming an increasingly its Strategic Rail Research and must focus on sourcing electric
attractive solution for European Innovation Agenda (SRRIA) in energy from renewable and
transport needs. As such, the late 2014, which addresses the more environmentally friendly
European Rail Research Advisory development of energy efficient sources. Research focused on
Council (ERRAC), founded and green rail technologies energy efficiency will develop
in 2001 with the purpose of throughout the whole rail system solutions to make rail an even
defining the rail research and as a key innovation challenge. greener transport mode through
innovation strategy in Europe Moreover, recent, ongoing, and eco-design and systems that
and promoting collaborative upcoming research initiatives require less energy. Also in the
research across the rail sector, guided by ERRAC have and same area, the sector will carry
continues to stimulate and drive will continue to address the out research in rail systems which
research aimed at making the formidable transport and consume less energy and utilise
railways more attractive and even environmental challenges facing technologies that regenerate
more environmentally friendly. In Europe and encourage a modal energy. Last but not least, further
fact, a primary focus of ERRAC’s shift to rail through the delivery of digitisation applications and
efforts has been on improving the a more attractive and efficient rail innovative solutions applied
energy efficiency and reducing system. to the rail market could bring
the environmental impact of massive energy savings, both with
rail transport—a mode which is ERRAC’s SRRIA states that in advanced traffic management
already regarded as the greenest. order to meet the challenges solutions (such as upcoming
of climate change, energy step changes in ERTMS) that
In the effort to combat climate supply, and transport network would optimise network
change, the usage of alternative congestion, rail must increase capacity and with advanced
energy sources and the its share of passenger and energy management systems
decarbonisation of transport has freight markets especially for (infrastructure/substations and
become an even larger priority in long distance journeys. In order on-board) both in mainline urban
EU Transport Policy. The European to do this, ERRAC has outlined segments that take into account
Commission’s 2011 White Paper themes for research programmes a smart grid/smart energy city
on Transport calls for 30% of in the SRRIA that focus on more approach.
road freight over 300km to shift ecological energy supply,
to other modes such as rail or improved system management, Indirectly, all technological
waterborne transport by 2030, increased energy efficiency, and and operational developments
and more than 50% by 2050. reduced energy consumption. that encourage end users to
Moreover, it states that by 2050 Energy supply is a critical function opt for rail transport over a
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
RAIL TRANSPORT
Boosting the attractiveness and
sustainability of rail transport with
collaborative European rail research
By Andy Doherty, Chairman, ERRAC
As demands for efficient a majority of medium-distance in the rail system as it enables
mobility grow, urban passenger transport should traction power, heating, comfort
populations surge, and go by rail. In support of such and other operational needs.
concerns of climate ambitious targets of the Transport As the European rail system is
change mount; rail transport White Paper, ERRAC published mostly electrified, R&D in this area
is becoming an increasingly its Strategic Rail Research and must focus on sourcing electric
attractive solution for European Innovation Agenda (SRRIA) in energy from renewable and
transport needs. As such, the late 2014, which addresses the more environmentally friendly
European Rail Research Advisory development of energy efficient sources. Research focused on
Council (ERRAC), founded and green rail technologies energy efficiency will develop
in 2001 with the purpose of throughout the whole rail system solutions to make rail an even
defining the rail research and as a key innovation challenge. greener transport mode through
innovation strategy in Europe Moreover, recent, ongoing, and eco-design and systems that
and promoting collaborative upcoming research initiatives require less energy. Also in the
research across the rail sector, guided by ERRAC have and same area, the sector will carry
continues to stimulate and drive will continue to address the out research in rail systems which
research aimed at making the formidable transport and consume less energy and utilise
railways more attractive and even environmental challenges facing technologies that regenerate
more environmentally friendly. In Europe and encourage a modal energy. Last but not least, further
fact, a primary focus of ERRAC’s shift to rail through the delivery of digitisation applications and
efforts has been on improving the a more attractive and efficient rail innovative solutions applied
energy efficiency and reducing system. to the rail market could bring
the environmental impact of massive energy savings, both with
rail transport—a mode which is ERRAC’s SRRIA states that in advanced traffic management
already regarded as the greenest. order to meet the challenges solutions (such as upcoming
of climate change, energy step changes in ERTMS) that
In the effort to combat climate supply, and transport network would optimise network
change, the usage of alternative congestion, rail must increase capacity and with advanced
energy sources and the its share of passenger and energy management systems
decarbonisation of transport has freight markets especially for (infrastructure/substations and
become an even larger priority in long distance journeys. In order on-board) both in mainline urban
EU Transport Policy. The European to do this, ERRAC has outlined segments that take into account
Commission’s 2011 White Paper themes for research programmes a smart grid/smart energy city
on Transport calls for 30% of in the SRRIA that focus on more approach.
road freight over 300km to shift ecological energy supply,
to other modes such as rail or improved system management, Indirectly, all technological
waterborne transport by 2030, increased energy efficiency, and and operational developments
and more than 50% by 2050. reduced energy consumption. that encourage end users to
Moreover, it states that by 2050 Energy supply is a critical function opt for rail transport over a
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
