ABB’s 1,500 Volt DC Enviline energy storage system (ESS) stores and recycles surplus braking energy from trains, reducing energy consumption and peak demand. Antonio Colla, global railway marketing and sales manager at ABB, says: “The energy management system stabilizes the network power demand and reduces energy costs. Regenerative braking systems improve energy efficiency of traction systems due to the regular braking that takes place each day, recovering up to 30 percent of otherwise wasted energy”. ABB’s ESS is also used to manage voltage drops: trains draw peaks of power during acceleration which can lead to performance problems causing operation delays.
Projects such as Melbourne Metro and LAX demonstrate the vast environmental, cost and operational benefits afforded by this technology
