Analysis of energy efficiency and resilience for AC railways with solar PV and energy storage systems

Railway energy consumption and its environmental repercussions, alongside operational costs, are pivotal concerns necessitating attention. With escalating energy prices, renewable energy sources emerge as compelling alternatives to traditional systems, offering clean and cost-effective solutions while advancing decarbonization efforts. This study delves into the integration of photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage systems (ESS) into AC railway traction power supply systems (TPSS) with Direct Feed (DF) and Autotransformer (AT) configurations. The aim is to evaluate energy performance, overhead line current distribution, and conductor temperature. A case study is conducted on a 100 km AC rail route with six passenger stations and suburban trains operational throughout a full day, illustrating the impact of PV and ESS integration in both DF and AT setups. Findings reveal improved voltage drops and significant reductions in substation supply power, energy consumption, contact wire current, and temperature. Notably, a 6.5% and 9.6% reduction in supply energy is observed with PV and ESS integration for DF and AT configurations, respectively. These results underscore the imperative of the integration to optimize energy management in railway systems, fostering efficient energy utilization, potential cost savings, and environmental sustainability.