China Railway Solar Power Generation Project

Is solar energy available in the rail sector in China?

Available solar energy in the rail sector in China. As seen, all the available solar energy in the rail sector itself is as much as 3157.8 TWh per year. Since there is less rail mileage in Zone I and IV, less utilized space is available for solar energy integration.

What are the railway mileages for solar power generation in China?

Except for the railway tunnels, the available railway mileages for the integration of the solar power generation are decreased to 0.2 × 10 4 km in Zone I, 3.1 × 10 4 km in Zone II, 7.5 × 10 4 km in Zone III, and 1.1 × 10 4 km in Zone IV, respectively. Fig. 1. Distribution of railway networks and solar energy in China.

Can solar energy be used in the rail sector?

These initial field trials demonstrate that the usage of the solar energy generation in the rail sector has a strong potential with the technological progress and cost reduction in the future. As seen, it is forecasted that the solar energy would play a vital role in the rail sector for renewable power supply and carbon emission reduction.

Can solar power be used in rail traction power supply systems?

Focused on the usage of solar power generation in the rail sector, the available solar energy on the covered land and trackside land in the rail itself is assessed for the rail integration. Then, several configurations for the integration of solar power generation in the rail traction power supply systems (TPSSs) are investigated.

How much solar power does Beijing South Station generate a year?

In 2008, a 220 kW rooftop solar power generation in Beijing South Station was operated [11,12]. It is estimated to generate 223 MWh per year for the use of the rail station itself. Then, a larger 10 MW solar power generation was installed on the canopy and rooftop of Hangzhou East Station and began operation in 2013 .

Why is solar-powered rail transportation a good option?

Although the total cost of the solar-powered rail transportation is relatively high, it can make full use of the rail own land with no increasing land for solar panel installations. Furthermore, due to the rail energy consumption, this approach facilitates the solar energy accommodation with less curtailment.