Japanese Railway Adopts Smart Grid Technology

East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) announced on May 8, 2012, that in order to accelerate the efficient use of energy, it would adopt smart grid technology for its railway electricity system. In particular, it will implement practical measures to utilize regenerative electric power, which recaptures energy when trains stop, and solar power generation.

Technologies to utilize regenerative electric power will be verified by actual equipment, including storage devices for surplus electricity, and a railway power conditioner that enables surplus electricity to be passed onto to other trains running on a different electric circuit.

Assuming that solar power generation begins full-scale operations utilizing the space along railroad lines in the future, JR East will test technologies to store electricity and send electricity to remote stations in order to make the most of the natural energy available.

On June 28, 2012 the company introduced the technology to store the electricity at Hiraizumi Station on the Tohoku Honsen Line. At the station, all of the electricity needs at the station, including those at night, is covered by solar power generated on sunny days by combining solar power generation and storage batteries,

Posited: 2012/08/20 06:00:15 AM

TAG Energy , Non-manufacturing industry , Technology