The inefficiency of rail vehicle’s usage of grid power
Urban areas are often struggling with limited grid capacity. Meanwhile, we see that metro’s, trams and trains consume disproportionately large power peaks when taking off. These frequent but short power peaks require public transport providers to get a very large grid connection, which is being used extremely inefficiently due to the nature of the power peaks of their rail vehicles. Getting an even bigger grid connection to now also support EV charging for upcoming electric buses is problematic.
Not only that, but metro’s, trams and trains also burn off a significant amount of potential brake energy when arriving at their stations. If this energy could be harnessed, a significant energy consumption reduction could be realized.
Compact flywheels for wayside energy storage and peak shaving
QuinteQ wants to solve urban grid congestion and get rid of energy waste by capturing this brake energy in our compact flywheel and peakshave rail vehicles during take-off. This not only helps to save costs but also improves the overall stability of the grid. Additionally, as our flywheel is characterized by its long lifetime, circular design, and endless cycles, it makes it a sustainable and reliable solution for energy storage.
With its compact design, the QuinteQ flywheel can be easily integrated into for example metro stations where space is limited. Its containerized design allows for easy transport and installation.