Revolutionizing Renewable Energy Transport: Freight Trains as Mobile Power Carriers
As freight trains traditionally transport coal and fossil fuels across the United States, a new vision is emerging that could see these trains carrying something entirely different: renewable energy. This innovative concept seeks to utilize the nation’s extensive rail network for transporting stored solar and wind energy, promising a groundbreaking shift in how electricity reaches the grid.
The idea originated with Christopher Smith, a veteran in the renewable energy sector. While hiking in Alaska, Smith experienced what he describes as an “epiphany” as he watched a freight train pass by. He realized that these trains could potentially address a significant challenge: transporting renewable energy from isolated generation sites to areas where electricity is needed most.
Teaming up with Jeff Anderson, a green-tech entrepreneur, Smith co-founded SunTrain. Their company is now working on a pioneering pilot project in Colorado, aiming to demonstrate that trains equipped with large-scale batteries can bypass transmission bottlenecks. These trains could deliver energy to existing coal or natural gas plants, where the power can then be fed into the grid.
In collaboration with Xcel Energy, Colorado’s largest utility, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, SunTrain is seeking a $10 million federal grant to advance this technology. If successful, and pending regulatory approval, Anderson stated that the pilot could be operational within four years.
The SunTrain initiative highlights a critical issue in the energy sector: the limited capacity of the current transmission grid, which hinders the full deployment of renewable energy. A recent study by the U.S. Department of Energy suggests that the grid must at least double in size by 2050 to accommodate future needs.
“Right now, a majority of green energy projects are built around transmission access. All the low-hanging fruit around transmission line access has been gobbled up over the last 20 years,” Smith explained, emphasizing the need for alternative solutions.
With the U.S. freight train network spanning approximately 140,000 miles, much of it traversing areas rich in wind and solar resources, trains present a viable option for transporting heavy battery loads. SunTrain plans to use lithium-iron-phosphate batteries weighing 120 tons each, which are safer in case of derailments as they contain only 6% lithium.
Railway companies appear receptive to this new role, as the transport of fossil fuels increasingly accounts for a smaller portion of their business. Members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the National Electrical Contractor’s Association have expressed support for SunTrain’s initiative, known as the Wireless Alternative by Train Transport (WATT).
Colorado Governor Jared Polis also backs the project. In a letter dated October 20, he stated, “This provides an immediate, alternative connection between renewable energy generation and load, bypassing the congested transmission system.” He further highlighted its potential to replace coal transport with battery freight cars and repurpose retiring fossil fuel plants as energy hubs.
The project, projected to cost around $125 million, could see Xcel Energy’s Cherokee Generating Station in Denver as a potential site. SunTrain is actively raising funds for the project, with contingency plans to seek alternative financing if the federal grant is not secured.
Original Story at www.denverpost.com