Siemens installing regenerative battery on TriMet train
In energy savings mode, the energy storage unit absorbs the energy generated by braking rail vehicles and stores it until the system can safely feed it back to the power supply during vehicle acceleration.
Siemens is currently installing the first regenerative battery in the U.S. on the new TriMet Portland-Milwaukie light rail transit line — the 7.3-mile line extension project that will connect the southeast corridor to downtown Portland and other regions that TriMet MAX serves.
The southeast Portland Tacoma substation location will house the first U.S. storage unit that allows for energy created during braking to be stored and then re-used in one of two forms, energy savings or voltage stabilization, during peak demand times. TriMet will utilize the system in voltage stabilization mode.
In voltage stabilization mode, the Sitras SES Energy Storage Unit with supercapacitor technology allows the system to avoid problems that have led to disruptions in mass transit operations. If a number of vehicles accelerate simultaneously, system voltage can drop below a critical level and result in instances of undervoltage tripping in vehicles and, consequently, lead to disruptions in passenger service. The Sitras SES ensures the system voltage always remains within the required range and voltage-related disruptions no longer occur.
“The regenerative energy storage unit is an important piece of the many sustainable elements being incorporated in this light rail project,” said Dan Blocher, executive director, TriMet Capital Projects.
The Sitras Energy Storage unit is part of Siemens Smart Grid Rail Electrification portfolio, providing solutions to reliably connect railway systems to the power grid. In energy savings mode, the energy storage unit absorbs the energy generated by braking rail vehicles and stores it until the system can safely feed it back to the power supply during vehicle acceleration.
As a voltage stabilizer, the energy content is constantly kept at a high level and energy is discharged when the system voltage falls below a specified limit. Installation of the Sitras Energy Storage Unit also allows TriMet to avoid placing a utility-connected substation in the same location.
The Sitras SES has been successfully installed in Spain and Germany, reducing the energy demand at Cologne Transit Authority substation by 15,000 kWh in one month. The use of just a single energy storage unit could save a maximum of 500,000 kWh per year. In addition to the cost saving, the storage unit can reduce CO2 emissions by 300 tons per year with this reduction in energy generation.
The first substations will be installed beginning in October 2013. The Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Transit Project is set to open in 2015 and will expand the MAX system to 60 miles and 97 stations.
RELATED ARTICLE: Check out, "Amtrak unveiles advanced tech. Siemens locomotives."
More Rail
OCTA Declares Emergency to Protect Rail Corridor From Coastal Erosion
The California agency is accelerating shoreline protection and plans to place approximately 690,000 cubic yards of sand along the San Clemente coast to protect a key passenger and freight rail link.
Read More →
More Than a Summer Job: Building the Next Generation of Transit Talent
The Delaware River Port Authority and PATCO have transformed their internship program into a hands-on professional development experience that introduces students to the breadth of transportation careers — and creates a pipeline for future employees.
Read More →
Airo Trains Make Their Amtrak Cascades Debut in the Pacific Northwest
Effective immediately, two cutting-edge Airo trainsets will join the Amtrak Cascades route, operating four daily trips between Vancouver, B.C., Seattle, Portland, and Eugene, Oregon, marking the first introduction of Airo trains into passenger service anywhere in the country.
Read More →
Florida's Brightline Announces Financial Restructuring
Brightline Florida says train operations will continue as normal as certain parent entities enter Chapter 11 and financial stakeholders provide $490 million in new long-term capital.
Read More →
ENC Lands MATA Contract and More in Biz Briefs
In this edition of Biz Briefs, we spotlight the latest developments shaping the future of mobility.
Read More →
Strada360’s Steve Lassey on Turning Transit Data Into Better Decisions
From breaking down data silos to preparing for AI, Strada360 CEO Steve Lassey discusses how transit agencies can use technology to improve operations, customer information, and long-term decision-making.
Read More →
SEPTA Details Accelerate Vision for Transit System
The plan outlines investments in trolley modernization, new Metro and Regional Rail vehicles, accessible stations, and more frequent bus and rail service.
Read More →
FTA Ends Direct Oversight of MBTA Safety Actions
The federal agency closed its remaining special directive to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities following a safety review that began in 2022.
Read More →
Amtrak, CN Reach Agreements to Strengthen Passenger Rail Service, Safety
The agreement resolves a more than decade-long proceeding before the Surface Transportation Board concerning the terms and conditions for Amtrak services, such as the City of New Orleans, Illini/Saluki, and Wolverine.
Read More →
New York MTA Advances Final Contract for Second Avenue Subway Expansion
Contract Four is the largest in the Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project and includes construction of station infrastructure, tracks, and signals for the subway expansion, MTA officials said. Work on Contract Four will begin in 2027.
Read More →