Barcelona Subway Harnesses Braking Energy to Power Electric Cars
Barcelona subway system recycles braking energy to charge electric cars. MetroCharge project powers 16 subway stations and electric car plug-in stations. Regenerative brakes capture energy for immediate use or storage.
This innovative project, known as MetroCharge, aims to make public transportation more environmentally friendly while supporting the shift towards privately owned electric cars in Europe.
The MetroCharge project involves sixteen stations of the Barcelona subway system, where the energy produced by the trains' regenerative brakes is harnessed to power both the trains and the stations. The excess energy is then directed to the surface through cables to charge plug-in stations for electric cars.
Engineer Bernardo Espinoza, a daily subway commuter and owner of a hybrid car, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, "I am pleasantly surprised... And if it is from energy from the metro’s brakes, then even better."
Regenerative brakes, a technology present in trains for decades, capture energy during braking that would otherwise be lost as heat. This energy is then used to power the trains or stations, or in this case, to charge electric vehicles parked nearby.
Alvaro Luna, a professor of electrical engineering, highlighted the innovation of redirecting recycled energy to specific local uses, such as charging electric cars. This approach not only enhances efficiency but also potentially allows for lower energy prices for consumers.
Jordi Picas, head of systems for TMB, Barcelona’s subway, estimates that the 7.3 million euros ($7.6 million) invested in the MetroCharge project, including EU funding, can be recouped in four years through reduced energy costs. The system, which incorporates solar panels, fulfills the energy needs of 28 subway stations and saves 6% of the total energy consumption of the metro.
As global efforts to combat climate change intensify, initiatives like the Barcelona subway's energy recycling project play a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainability. The project aligns with the goals set by countries at U.N. climate talks and the Group of 20 nations to double energy efficiency by 2030.
Despite the progress made by Spain and other Mediterranean countries in promoting electric vehicles, challenges remain, including the need for more recharging stations to support the growing demand for electric cars. Spain's efforts to transition to a greener economy are evident in initiatives like the electric car plan supported by the EU's post-pandemic transition funds.
Barcelona subway system recycles braking energy to charge electric cars
MetroCharge project powers 16 subway stations and electric car plug-in stations
Regenerative brakes capture energy for immediate use or storage
Source: AP NEWS